Evening star., 1950-10-22
The Will to Fight

Herbert Hoover touched on subject that is
in many minds when he raised the question OF
the willingness of our Allies in Western Europe
to take the steps necessary to erect firm front
against Russian aggression.
These nations have achieved greater indus
trial production than before either the First
or the Second World War They have greater
manpower. Yet, although in the former wars
they put 14O trained and equipped combat divi
sions in the field within 80 days they could not
muster enough troops today to fight delaying
action against the Russians.
This country in addition to building up It's
own armed strength has spent billions OF dollars
and is planning to spend billions more to
strengthen the economy of Western Europe and
revive its military potential. 1t is doing this In
the interests of its own defense and the defense
of European civilization. The question is whether
the investment is a sound one in either respect.
Mr. Hoover thinks our Allies are dragging
their feet, that they may not have the will to
fight If attacked, and that I'VE should say, and
at once, that we shall provide no more money
until definitely unified and sufficient European
army is in sight" This, of course, raises the
matter of what alternative we have. The former
President sees it this way: 'If we do not find
real military action of powerful strength in
Western Europe; If there Is no definite and
effective mobilization of the other members of
the United Nations so as to take up the major
burden of their own defenses, then we had better
reconsider our whole relation to the problem. In
that event we had better quit talking and paying
and consider holding the Atlantic Ocean with
Britain (if they wish) as one frontier, and the
Pacific Ocean with an armed Japan and other
islands as the other frontier"
There will be those who will say that this
is the old isolationism cropping out. But Mr.
HOOVpr'S In t1v from,
expressed month ago by John Sherman Cooper,
former Republican Senator and now a Republican
adviser to the State Department.
Mr.. Cooper said that the action which has
been taken by Western Europe, and he included
Britain is inadequate and cautious. Emergencies
call for emergency action" he said land decisions
regarding survival cannot be made upon the basis
Of whether or not economic and social programs
might be disturbed" The first requirement. he
declared, is the adoption of a defense plan for
Western Europe. Without such plan, said Mr.
Cooper, "the aid that we furnish will be mis-
directed, and in part wasted. The entire effort
may repeat the familiar "too little-too late'
pattern.
Within the past few days France has an
nounced a program looking toward the military
expenditure over the next three years of $5.o
billion, including the raising of IS new divisions
This is an encouraging step in the right direction,
but it falls far short of the total effort that
should be made in Western Europe.
1t is to be hoped that the requisite effort
will be forthcoming. If 1t is not, if the will to
fight for their own survival is not present among
the people of Western Europe, then soon or late,
We shall have to turn to the grim question of
what can and should be done to safeguard
ourselves That will be a very difficult thing to
do. But the worst thing we could do is to pin
our hopes on Allies If they will not prepare them
selves to stand up to the test when it comes