Evening star., 1950-03-30
Break in Bipartisan
Foreign Policy Held
Fault Of Democrats
FIGHT Against Dulles
In Senote Roce Cited
As TypicoI Reward
Bp David Laurence

1peecneS are oelnG mace ADOuC
how the Republicans are upsetting
the bipartisan foreign policy.
when the truth Of the matter
is that the Democrats are pri-
marily responsible for destroying
the fine spirit Of cooperation
which once prevailed.
It's all very well for former Sec
retary Stimson and others with
short memories to denounce the
Republicans for their attacks on
foreign policy, but the principal
damage was done last autumn
when John Foster Dulles-who,
with the exception of Senator
Vandenberg, was the strongest
influence in the Senate for BIZ
partisan co-operation-was pill
loried by the Democratic Party's
wrecking crew in the New York
State campaign.
With Senator Vandenberg in Ill
health, it was logical that Mr..
Dulles would carry the ball for a
bipartisan foreign policy at this
session. But the heavy guns of
the Democratic administration
were trained on him just the
same. This antagonized the Re
publicans in Congress, many of
whom harbor to this day a bitter
resentment against the tactics Of
the administration.
Mr.. Dulles has magnanimously
chosen to ignore the episode and
strive again for cooperation.
Some of the Republicans in the
Senate. however, say that it is all
very well for q Republican to CO.
operate and help the Democrats
muddle through q difficult situa-
tion, but his reward usually Is q
series Of partisan reprisals the
moment he runs for office.
Credit Minimized.
With all due respect to former
Gov. Lehman, it was far more
important for the country to have
Mr.. Dulles returned to the Sen
ate. The term was only q year,
and 1t would have been q great
example Of non-partisanship if the
Truman administration had come
out in support of the Republican
candidate. That would have made
sense. because it would have been
an example Of real patriotism on
the part Of the administration.
Today the Republicans are aware
that whatever credit is due them
for their cooperation will be mini
mized, no matter how much they
help. and also that they will have
no opportunity to formulate pol
icy. anyhow. For the Republicans
were not consulted in the making
Of Far Eastern policy.
The usual cry by the exponents
Of hush-hush and suppression is
that the potential enemy abroad
will derive aid and comfort from
criticism in foreign-policy mat
ters. This is an exaggeration.
People in the foreign Offices
abroad know that the only time
an administration can be re-
moved from Office in the United
States Is when q change in the
presidency occurs. A minority op-
position viewpoint is thoroughly
understood and has its construc-
tive values.
Any national or international
policy that cannot stand the light
OF constant criticism probably
isn't worth defending in the first
instance. Prime Minister Attlee
and Winston Churchill didn't
observe any bipartisan etiquette
on foreign policy in their recent
campaign.
COP Can Overplay.
Naturally. If the Republicans
everyday their hand by their criti-
cism, they will hurt themselves,
and the majority party and ad-
ministration will be correspond
tngly strengthened instead of
weakened. II the Republicans
happen to be right in their criti-
cism. the Democrats will be in
huenced to change their policies
which is all to the good.
The fight against Secretary Of
State Acheson arose not because
Of any personal antagonism
against him in the first instance,
but because he is q symbol of the
administration, especially since
the President appears to have
delegated virtually complete re-
sponsibility for the making Of for
eign policy to his Secretary Of
State.
In these dispatches last autumn,
attention was called to the way the
administration was fighting Mr..
Dulles, and the prediction was
made then that far more than a
Republican candidate was being
destroyed. This has now come
true. Except for q meaningless
gesture now and then like the des-
ignation Of former Senator Cooper
Of Kentucky to accompany the
American delegation to London for
the forthcoming meeting OF the
foreign ministers. the days Of BIZ
partisan Cooperation" on for
eign policy as carried on hereto
fore are over.
Republican Senators are no
longer to feel muzzled to speak
their thoughts in the Senate, and
there are signs that the Demo-
Gratis themselves are considerably
relieved. too, to be able to accept
the political challenge Of their op-
ponents whenever it is flung TO-
ward them.
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ARGUS C-3