Evening star., 1950-10-25
Keeping Our Powder Dry

Although Soviet Foreign Minister Vishinsky
still accuses the President of advocating HitlerS
policy of guns instead of butter, there are those
who think the world has moved closer to the
allied goals of atomic control and arms reduction.
This hopeful view is based on passages in
Mr.. Truman's address in connection with the fifth
anniversary Of the United Nations and on
Mr.. ViShinskys remarks of the previous day.
Perhaps there is some basis for the hope.
The President spoke emphatcally in restating
this country'S desire for international control Of
atomic energy and reduction of armaments and
said that we would continue to work through
the U. N. toward these detectives In his earlier
talk, Mr.. Vishinsky INDUCED in the familiar abuse
of the President and other American and British
leaders He also said, however that the Soviet
Union "is prepared to make further efforts in the
future to resolve the atomic deadlock" and he
indicated modification of the previous Russian
position when he stated willingness to accept
inspections of atomic operations on suspicion of
violation of control plan or for any reason.
This, OF course, does not meet the American in
SlStence on international ownership and opera
ton OF atomic plants, but it suggests that the
Russians may now be ready to abandon their
opposition to unannounced inspections of plants
in territory under their control
1t would be unwise to the point of rashness
to read too much into Mr.. Vishinsky's guarded
words. He has said enough, however to encour-
age the hope that renewed discussions may be
more fruitful than those of the past But nothing
that he has said justifes belief that there has
been genuine change of heart within the
Soviet Union as result of the setback in Korea
and the show of strength made in that connec-
ton by the U. NJ That change of heart NAV
come In time Indeed, 1t must come if the world
is not to be ruined by another war or by the
economic burdens of preparing against the evil
event OF another war. Our position has to be
however, that there is not now any rational basis
for belief in the good faith of the Russians and
that there probably will not be any such basis for
long time to come.
Although he did not state it in so manv
words, this was the position taken by Mr. Truman
IN his U. N. address. He said that in the present
state OF the world the United States is firmly
committed to building the armed strength that
is required to make the world secure against
aggression, and that we, with other peace-loving
countries, are resolved to pursue this course as
long as it is necessary to do So At the same time
ne reasserted that the ultimate goal is peaceful
"orld, deVotlng its resources to the betterment
OF mankind through the instruments of the u N.
If there was nothing exciting in the address
1t was still message appropriate to the occasion
On this fifth anniversary the u NJ certainly is
stronger than 1t ever has been before. Although
this country carried most of the burden in Korea
the U. N. showed a willingness to take concerted
action against aggression that has not been
matched in the history of the world The ami
versary occasion was propitious, therefore, for
renewed warning that aggression will be met
with force and for holding out to people everv-
where picture of the benefits that would come
to all II peace could be firmly established Let
1t be said of Mr.. Truman that he made the most
of his opportunity.