Evening star., 1950-11-26

about these matters. When they
asked pertinent questions on the
basis Of scant private informa-
ton they were given a polite
brushoff. They felt that the
executive branch of the Govern
ment must have some very posi-
tive information which they them
selves did not possess. 1t was easy
to silence some by accusing them
Of playing politics with the most
vital matters concerning the
people-the conduct of
our foreign affairs.
Hearings May Fix Blame
The administrations policies in
China were the target of violent
attacks on the floor of the Senate
and House. When it looked like
the country at large might side
with these voices in the wilder
ness, the administration hauled
out its big guns. 1t issued the
White Book, based
on half-truths and showing that
because of the corruption which
in the Nationalist camp
its armies were defeated and we
were compelled to withdraw our
support from government which
had cost the American taxpayer
many hundreds of millions of
dollars. -
Highly respected Senators, in-
cluding the chairman of the For
eign Relations Committee, were
requested for the sake of party
unity to denounce violently all
their colleagues who dared ques-
ton the wisdom of the admin
istration's policies.
The actual problem which in
terested the American people
strategic Importance for this coun-
try of having China in friendly,
if corrupt. hands-was never all
lowed to come to the fore.
Speeches by opposition members
in Congress do not change a pol
icy. And that is all that the
of keeping China out
of Stains hands could achieve.
The speeches merely put their
names on the front pages for o
few hours.
The proposed "re-examination'@
of our policies. which drew such
a sharp attack from the Secre- +
tary of State. will determine the
responsibility after genuine and
searching hearings are held in
the committees Of both houses.
There will be shouts Of course.
that such a re-examination will
hurt the prestige of our diplomacy
abroad and affect seriously the
conduct Of our diplomatic affairs
in these dangerous days. But
since our diplomats have failed
so lamentably in their bright
promise to give the American peo-
pie the peace for which they shed
their blood and spent their re-
sources and energies. there is no,
real reason why thorough in
vestigation should not be made
now.
Wishful Thinking
The situation across the Atlantic
is ominouS. We have spent some
$40 billion to help the economic
and military recovery Of Europe.
We have solemnly pledged our
selves to help the peoples of fres i,
Europe in the event of another ag-
gression. -.
We are engaged now in vast
program to provide the military
for new European
army. Wishful thinkers tell us
that we still have at least two
years before the Russians can
strike. On what premises this
theory is advanced nobody actu.
ally can say.
We know positively that the :
Russians have at least 2.5 million
well-armed and well-trained men
for a campaign in Europe. We
know that they have at least TO-
900 first-line planes which can
interfere effectively with our
atom bomb-carrying planes. We
know that there is a first-cle ss
German army of at least 10000
ready to be used as spearhead
of the Russians across the Elbe.
These are definite facts which
have been confirmed not only by
our own intelligence services but
also those of Britain, France and
other countries. ,
Sources of Manpower
The assumption in Official
quarters that the Russians will
not strike in the near future is .
apparently based on the belief
that the Kremlin thinks we will
ruin ourselves economically in an
attempt to rearm and organ ze
forces composed of Europec ls
who are war-Weary and reluctant
to fight again after two World,
Wars.
The show we are putting up in
Korea and the determination Of
the American people to sacrifice
most of our substance to arm the
across the Atlantic should
show the Kremlin that this is not
the case.
Speedy military preparation Of
Western Europe is paramount in
the minds of our military leaders.
This is the reason they have in
sisted that all nations which are
willing and capable of fighting
against the Eastern totalitarians
should be included in the Vest.
ern setup.
The most important countries
which have been barred by the
Atlantic pact nations from par
ticipating in the defense of the
West are Germany and Spain.
Together they could muster nearly
million firSf-1ipa froone l.. l1e~