Evening star., 1950-08-28
Matthews Speech
Is Realistic if NOT
In Line With Policy
Issue Is Too Real
To Be Soft Pedoled
Or Ignored Longer
Bv Darid Laurence

Matthews said in his Boston
speech about anticipating aggres.
sion by counterattack cannot bs
pooh-pooed as Just irrelevant ol
indiscreet. For even though HI
spoke out Of turn and has beer
reprimanded for it in the state
ment of disavowal issued by tht
State Department the issue HI
raised is fundamental and ines
capable.
The issue is simply this: Woult
the American people be willing Il
see New York or Detroit or any
other American cities suddenly de.
stroyed without warning by atom
bombs by an aggressor state anc
then only begin to retaliate BY
dropping our own atom bombs
over the aggressor country?
Must the age-old forms Of wait
ing for a declaration Of war by an
enemy still be accepted and thus
let the aggressor state always pos
sess the horrifying advantage o1
being able to tell exactly when
and where the first blow will be
struck?
Realistic Phase Of Issue.
This is not a new controversy
In history and the apprehension II
has stirred probably has led tt
the outbreak of war in cases thai
might have yielded to peaceful
negotiation but it is q realistic
phase of international relationl
which in an atomic era at least
cannot be brushed aside as inap'
plicable to democracies.
The principal criticism that viii
be made of Mr.. Matthews speech
is that he gave the Soviet propa.
ganda bureau ammunition to Cal
us "warmongers." For he said that
the time may come when the
United States may have to "in-
stitute war to compel coopera-
ton" for peace, adding that while
this might be new for a demo-
cracy we might have to play a new
role-"aggressors for peace"
Although the speech was not
cleared through the State Depart
ment or White House and should
never have been made because ii
does not jibe with American for
eign policy, nevertheless now that
the words have been expressed II
probably is a good thing to have
the Russian press and the kus.
sian people know that the Ameri.
can people are not sitting idly b,
while a group Of evil men in the
Kremlin are considering more az.
gression in different parts Of tn,
world. 1t may be salutary for tn
Russians to learn that a demo
cracy is debating conference.-the
against allowing an aggressor t,
take the initiative.
The Right to Intervene.
In principle, Mr.. Matthews
really saying what the American
policy proposals on the interna
tional control of atomic energ,
have advocated, namely that whel
International inspection is agreet
TO there should be a right to &C
into any country and put o stor
at once to any intended use OF
atomic energy for purposes of max.
ing war. In the absence Of such
international control, what shall
be the role Of q democracy?
This correspondent has differed
In the past with Mr.. Matthews
handling of the Navy Department
and has said that a man of diff
ferent experience should be head
ing that department but It could
well happen that MIR. Matthews
greatest service to his country VIII
some day be recorded as having
been performed by speaking out
plainly as he did in Boston las
week.
The issue is too real and means
too much to the lives of man,
Americans to be soft-pedaled O
ignored. George Craig, nationa
commander of the American
Legion, last Saturday raised tn
same question.
Gazing at Crystal Ball.
It all boilS down to the fact tina
the United States while preparin
to defend its cities and its allie
is failing to come to grips with tn
basic question Of a sudden attac
by the Soviet. Instead all tn
democracies are doing is gain
into a crystal ball, trying to CUES
what the Communists may do.
The aggression in North Kore,
was the turning point in q wa
against the democracies which be
gan four years ago. It's war tina
has deprived many countries O
their independence, has deprive,
nationals Of other countries O
their rights and has inf1ltrated b,
devilish means inside free nations
interfering with their govern
mental processes.
What MIR. Matthews might bet
ter have said is that Russia nov
has started shooting war of ag
gression in North Korea and tn
question before the democracies /
whether they will let the true az
gressor escape or whether they Wi
sit around the United Nation.
table treating him as an equs
when his hands are covered witt
the blood of Allied soldiers. MI
Matthews might well have aske,
when America and her allies vii
begin formally to name Russia a
the aggressor and take militar
steps If necessary, to bring abou
the withdrawal of her armies from
Germany and other sovereign
countries and from areas whicl
Red troops are not entitled t.
occupy. But even so. it was an.
1s the duty of the President an,
the Secretary Of State to say sucl
things-n they are to be said a
all. MIR. Matthews has involun
tarily given everybody, however
o solemn warning.