Evening star., 1950-06-14
Acheson' S Talk Shows
Military Thinking
Is Dominant Here
Reveals Negative Policy
Which Offers Drifting as
Only Course to Follow
Bv David Laurence

etary of State, makes a speech en-
leavoring to outline America s
world policy, he reveals unwilling
y that the United States has no
affirmative policy but solely a neg
ltive policy which offers watchful
lrifting as the only course to be
pursued in the present critical sit
lation in the world.
MIR. Acheson is so imbued with
the military approach that he
talks more like a secretary of wal
Than a secretary of peace. His reli-
ance is primarily on military
strength despite some vague refer
ences to economic and moral
power.
The analysis which Secretary
Acheson made of Americas posi-
lion in his latest speech at Dallas
reveals:
/. That the United States Gov
irnment still fears Russia may
make war but hopes to scare the
Soviet leaders and deter them.
2. That the United States Gov
rnment denounces "appeasement'
and yet looks forward to mean
lngful negotiation"
Outlines Four Courses.
The Secretary said. for instance,
that the international Communist
movement does not create an i'm
mediate danger of war but is being
used as a bludgeon and docs con-
'front.' the world with the possibility
that the Soviet leaders, whenever
they feel that they are strong
enough, may be tempted to make
use of military force as an instru-
ment of their policy-they may do
this either generally, or in specific
ocal situations"
Having stated that broad prem
Sc. Mr.. Acheson then proceeds to
outline the four alternative courses
ne sees ahead-and. incidentally
,mits a fifth. perhaps the most ef-
tective of all.
The first course he describes as
move ito pull down the blinds
and sit in the parlor with loaded
shotgun. waiting" He calls this
Isolationism and says it will moi
work.
The second course he mentions
Is the policy Of appeasement oi
Soviet ambitions" He says this |.
an alternative form of isolation.
ism. He declares this would zen.
courage Soviet aggression II
would lead to a final struggle fol
survival in which both our mora,
position and our military position
would have been seriously weak
sned."
The third course, which he said
might have been considered by
another type of government and
In earlier times in the world. is
preventive war" This, he ex-
plains, would involve dropping
atomic bombs on the Soviet Union
now. He declares that "all re-
sponsible men must agree that
such a course is unthinkable for
u.s." He adds that this would not
solve problems-it would multiply
Shem."
The fourth way of dealing with
these matters, according to Mr..
Acheson, is to work on them in
cooperation with other nations,
and by means of peaceful negoti-
alton to resolve our differences"
Mr.. Acheson makes the point
that so long as the Russian lead
ers entertain hopes for early
expansion into areas of weakness
in the world. there is no likeli-
hood Of their entering into genu-
inc agreements for the resolution
Of our common problems, or of
honoring those agreements which
We now have"
Age-Old Arms Theory.
Then the Secretary concludes
that a prior condition" to mean
tngful negotiation" is to convince
the Russian leaders that they
cannot profit from a policy of ex-
pansionism."
Added all up. this means that
Mr.. Acheson thinks military power
sooner or later will scare the
Kremlin into submission to
Americas viewpoint, and that
later on they will make agree
ments which will be honored.
The assumption is that the
Kremlin's men of evil will change
from bad to good as they see the
armament of the Western allies
build up. This is the age-olc
theory of military philosophy. II
has never made converts to virtue
Instead, it has stimulated riva
countries to build armament
strength and thus keep the worlc
constantly in fear of sudden war
Another important course ot
possible action is not referred tt
at all by Mr.. Acheson. 1t is thai
line be drawn for all time be-
tween the Kremlin and the Rus
sian people and that the latter be
encouraged to manifest theil
power so as to change their gov.
ernment's policies or to change
their government. The outline Of
this plan was given in these
columns on February Is last. Il
Is the very policy which helped
to shorten World War I. It woulo
have helped to shorten Worlc
War II as prelude to German
surrender. But today. as then
military thinking here is dorni.
nant.
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