Evening star., 1950-08-17
Lack Of Long-Range
Military Policy Seen
Endangering Nation
Unbalanced Defense Due
To Many Weaknesses
In Strategic Concept
By David Laurence

a
The present crisis may be over IN
a few months if no large-scale
war is begun, but the United
States will still be without a ma
tional military policy unless there
is a complete re-examination soon
of the weaknesses in strategic
concept which have produced our
unbalanced defense of today.
Too much reliance is being
placed on anticipated cooperation
by the members of the North At
lantic Pact. Too much is expected
also from a loose federation OF
governments with diverse inter-
ests in the United Nations. Too
little thought. moreover, has been
given to the fact that the Pacific
Ocean will be an area of trouble
for many years to come.
The simple truth is that in the
last five years the United States
Joint Chiefs of staff have been
influenced by pressure to divide
up an allotted sum of money, and
they have not developed an over
all strategic plan for the defense
5f the United States or for the
fulfillment of the global reSpon-
sibilities assumed by this country
since the close of World War II,
Limited Concept Thus Far.
The limited concept thus far
has been that the United States
can wage an air war with atom
bombs carried by intercontinental
bombers and that navieS and
ground armies would play Sec
ondary role. The Korean war
has deprecated this concept. 1t
had evidently been approved by
President Truman on the theory
that this was the best military
advice available. There were dis
senting views inside the military
establishment but these were not
given full expression.
Actually, the military chieftains
will admit that they never felt
that any program they offered
was adequate" and they have
never known what the diplomatic
commitments or inducements
would be that they would be
called on to carry out in a mill
tary sense.
Thus, the decision not to defend
South Korea was made last jan
uary and announced by Secretary
of State Acheson. 1t was reversed
in June. To what extent the mill
tary men suppressed their own
feelings and conceded in January
that Korea need not be defended
has never been revealed. But GER
tainly any group Of military ad-
visers who did not see the threat
to Japan and eventually to the
United States through possible
Russian seizure of Korea has no
business running the military pro-
gram Of the United States.
The desire to possess Korea is
based on the inherent craving
OF the Soviet military men tc be
able to strike at Japan. Tt is a
craving born of the imperialism
of the Cars, but it is basically
and traditionaIly Russian. Rus
sia didn't train and equip the
North Korean army in a few
months. 1t was doubtless a four |
year job. The Russians want Ko-
rea for the same reasons that
the japanese empire conquered
1t.
No Decision On Japan.
Apparently no decision has yet
been reached by American Iolicy
makers as to whether the new
Japan is to be thrown into the
arms Of Communist Russia or to
be assisted to become an ally of
the United States.
In any event, there can be no
building of our Army. Navy or Air
Force to adequate strength for
defense-or offense. when required
If no military policy of a long
range character is formulated.
This task may have to be under
taken now by the newly appointed
subcommittee of the Senate Armed
Services Committee which is
headed by Senator Lyndon John
son of Texas and comprised, in
addition, Of Senators Chapman of
Kentucky. Kefauver of Tennessee,
Hunt of Wyoming, Saltonstall of
Massachusetts and Morse of Ore
gon.
This correspondent was wrong
in his impression, conveyed in
these dispatches recently, that the
subcommittee was established for
"whitewash" purposes. Later in
formation plainly indicates that
the committee will not be par
tisans of the status quo out will
approach effectively both the mis-
takes of the past and the plan
ming for the future. ThSnembers
were carefully selected on the
basis Of their ability to do the
Job.
The subcommittee has an I'M
precedented opportunity. 1t can
not only come up with recon-
mendationS for the improvement
of our Armed Services but it can
speak up on the problem of CO.
ordinating orr military and dip
lomatic concepts, which is some
thing that has plagued the Armed
Services of the United States Tor
decades past.
i, is more dangerous now than
ever before to allow a drifting
policy that improvises in emerg-
encies. A long-range policy is
more than ever needed if the
safety of the United States is
really to be assured.
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