Evening star., 1950-12-25
Eisenhower's S Powers.
Expected 10 Reassure
Critics Of Europe Aid
BY the Associoied Press

Broad powers given Gen. Eisen-
hover to oeal directly with heads
of foreign states may be the Tru-
man administrations answer to
Republican demands for assur-
ances that Europe will fight to
defend itself.
Secretary of state Acheson has
told Congress members that under
the agreements made at Brussels
Gen. Eisenhower will have the
right to discuss vital matters with
the top men in each North At
lantic treaty state without going
through usual military channels.
On Gen. Eisenhower will be
placed the primary responsibility
for making certain that each
country furnishes the men and
equipment for its proportionate
share toward the goal of a 3-mil-
lion-man defense force to be set
up in the next three years.
The general. whose prestige is
high in Congress, thus will have
the job of gathering these forces
together, as we'll as commanding
their training and operations.
Some Republican lawmakers al
ready have made it clear they
want more than what they call
"paper" assurances that the Euro
peans are willing to do their part
in putting up men and will be
willing to fight if the need arises.
Although this particular point
apparently had nothing to do with
his appointment, the selection of
Gen. Eisenhower for the job
and the agreement to give him
authority that apparently is even
greater than that held by Gen.
Douglas Macarthur as Pacific
commanaer-figures to strengthen
the administrations position in
Congress
Republicans who have been de-
manding Secretary Acheson's
custer are not likely to take at
face value any assurances the
Secretary gives that Europe means
business in assembling a defense
force.
But the same Republicans are
not likely to press the issue fur
ther if Gen. Eisenhower says he
has dependable guarantees that
American troops aren't going to
be called upon to do more than
fair share of the fighting.
The Congressional distrust of
Europe's intentions has grown out
of the failure of other members
of the United Nations to furnish
any appreciable troop strength
for the War in Korea. Democrats.
want a repetition of that situa-
ton if fighting breaks out in
Europe.
Although Gen. Eisenhower has
been prominently mentioned as
a possible Republican Presidential
nominee in 1852, his Democratic
backing in Congress as COM
mander is just as strong as the
support he receives from the
Republicans. r+
At the moment. his prestige
among the lawmakers over
shadows that of any other mill
tary man. Gen. Macarthur al
ways had some critics in Con-
gress and they have increased
since the military reverses in
Korea. There is some private
complaint also about the failure
of Gen. George Marshall to push
along faster as Sec
retary of Defense.
The broad grant of authority to
Gen. Eisenhower in handling the
European situation evidently was
pleasing to members of both par
ties.
Senator Bridges of New Hamp-
shire. top Republican on the Ap-
preparations Committee which
will handle the request for funds
to send more American troops to
Europe, told reporters, he thinks
the agreement on Eisenhower's
powers was one of the most sig
niflcant reached at Brussels.
Senator Chavez, Democrat, of
New Mexico, another member Of
the appropriations group, COM
mented:
"If any one can get the Euro
peans together, Eisenhower can
He has the diplomatic, as well as
the military ability to make a
success of the job"