Evening star., 1950-12-03

II enSe Week |
/ For Capital
Continued From Page C-l)
would mean a third world war.
the Atomic Energy Commission
selected a 0,000-acre site in
South Carolina for development
of the hydrogen bomb.
It seemed interesting during this
particular week that Earl Brow
der should 90 to Jail and that the
son of Grover Cleveland Bergdoll
should be arrested for draft
lodging.
Congress, now talking Of stay
ing in session until after Christ
mas, laid the groundwork We'd
nesday for speedy action on
whatever defense funds and other
measures are asked by the White
House.
Senator Tydings, Maryland
Democrat, who on Monday had
quipped that his unexpected de-
feat November 7 would give him
longed-for rest from public
worries, was grimly serious after
the Armed Services Committee
heard Undersecretary Of Defense
Lovett and 1t. Gen. Alfred M.
Gruenther describe the military
situation. Committee sources
hinted that the reports were more
somber than had been indicated
the previous day by other PEN
tagon officials.
Committee Chairman Tydings,
describing the situation as very,
very grave" said the committee
would mark time awaiting any
proposals for an increased draft.
more military appropriations and
more manpower controls. On Fri
day the President asked 18 bill
lions more for arms and the
Defense Department asked for an
other $4,000 draftees in February.
Meanwhile. the moratorium in
the "get Acheson" campaign in
some Senate sectors showed signs
of cracking. Senators Wherry,
Bricker and Mccarthy, in separ-
ate interviews Wednesday. accused
Mr.. Acheson of trying to oust Gen.
Macarthur.
Trumans Statement
Throughout the day the White
House was silent, except for an
announcement that the President
did not plan to appear personally
before Congress. The stage was
left for Mr.. Acheson's speech that
night condemning the second
shocking act of aggression in
Korea" and declaring the U. N.
will not be intimidated.
But as the public awaited 1t they
read a Bureau of Labor Statistics
report that the cost of living
October Is reached an all-time
high, that the Governments in
telligence setup in the Far East
was due for a sharp, cold look, >
that John Foster Dulles, Republi-
can expert on foreign policy and
a U. N. delegation member, had
conferred with Senator Taft, and
that President Truman would ask
Congress for $80.5 million to boil
Ster defense and $38 million to
feed the Yugoslavs.
Secretary of Defense Marshall
was in the thick of conferences,
planning and watching. His only
public comment earlier in the
week was to remind the Women's
National Press Club and the en-
tire Nation that the Korean uues-
tion was not local issue, although
the fighting must be localized
there.
British reservations" about
American policy in Asia led to a
decision by Mr.. Attlee to come to
Washington next week for con-
situations reminiscent of the of
the Roosevelt Churchill talks of
World War II.
Practically every one in Wash
ington waited for the Thursday
news conference at the White
House. 1t had one of the biggest
turnouts and the President came
in smiling but serious He grew
grimmer and. in the view of many
reporters, did not disguise his
anger when defending Mr..
Acheson and Gen. Macarthur
from what he regarded as un-
justified attacks. But the tension
exploded after he exclaimed he
was so fed up with such foolish
ness that he might bust right
cut one of these days He took
the sting off by relaxing and
chuckling.
The Presidents big news was
that use of the atomic bomb was
under active consideration if alb
solutely necessary to achieve vic
tory and prevent another world
war. But it led to so many mis-
understandings here and abroad
that the White House had to issue
a "clarif1cation" three hours later.
For confusion, this episode
probably set the high-water mark
in a confusing and depressing
week.