Evening star., 1950-11-23
The Political Mil
Stussen Plans to Take
Five-Week World Tour
Interest in Far East Cited
As Reason for Trip
By Gould Lincoln


Harold E. Stassen, president Of the
University of Pennsylvania, controver.
siel figure in Republican national poll.
tics ever since he was floor manager
for the late Wendell Willkie in the
Republican National Convention Of 1910
when Willkie was nominated for Presi-
dent-is starting December 2 on a fve-
week around -the-world trip which will
take him to Japan, India and Pakistan.
Siam and South Africa and finally to
England and home. He has been impelled
to make the trip because Of his great
interest in the Far East situation.
During recent visit to Washington.
Mr.. StasSen expressed the opinion that
1t was Of tremendous Importance to the
future peace of the world that the
Kremlin not be permitted to consolidate
all Asia-or any more of Asia-within
its Communist fold. He believes firmly
that the Truman administration should
re-examine its Far East policy-and
without delay. Whether this could be
done with Secretary Dean Acheson still
at the helm in the State Department
he did not predict. but he did express
an opinion that in the light of present
public opinion in this country Mr..
Acheson was on his way out.
Critic Of Far East Policy.
Mr.. Stassen has been critic of the
administrations policy which has
been inspired by the State Department
in the Far East, particularly as it
related to China. He took part in con-
ference at the State Department on the
Far East at which Owen baltimore and
otncialS OF the department were present.
During that conference, according to
Mr.. StaSsen, Mr.. baltimore, whom Sena-
tor Mccarthy of Wisconsin later charged
with playing the Kremlin's game,
advanced a program which looked to
recognition by Britain Of the Conn
munist regime in China, and later rec
ognltlon OF the same regime by the
United States. with entry Of Red China
into the United Nations. Mr.. Stassen
during the conference strongly opposed
such program, which he believed would
lead down road to complete COM
munizat1on Of all Asia. But 1t was sup.
ported by some of the officials present.
1t is Mr.. Stassen's view that, with
China already in Communist hands,
the next important move by the Kremlin
Will be toward the Incorporation Of India
In the anti-Western group. For that
reason he. has shaped his coming ex.
ploratory trip to include first visit to
Japan. where he hopes to consult with
Gen. Douglas Macarthur. and then q
visit to India to confer with Nehru.
Mr.. Stassen feels that his proposed
visit to Moscow to confer with Marshal
Stain, which was strongly attacked by
the press In this country and by Pravda
In Russia. was misunderstood; that in
reality his letter to Stain was In effect
peace offensive, at time when Stain
and his supporters were talking largely
and constantly about peace and doins
nothing to promote 1t. He believes, too
that Stain. after his interview in le47,
had expected him to return for further
discussions at later time. He has had,
he says. no word at all from Stain In
reply to his letter suggesting visit TO
Moscow.
Action Only rs Citizen.
In that letter Mr.. Stassen points out
he was careful to say he proposed to act
only as private citizen in discussing
the world situation, without any idea Of
committing this country in any way.
1t Is still Mr.. Stassens hope that o new
world conflict, which would bring the
United States against Russia, may bs
averted. But he does not believe this
can happen through appeasement of
Russia-or Red China-or If this country
fails to erect and maintain a strong
defense.
Mr.. Stassen was contender for the
Republican presidential nomination at
the Philadelphia convention of 1e48.
Any future political plans he may have
he is keeping strictly to himself. He let i
be known. however. that has high regard
for the ability and qualifications Of Ger.
Dwight D. Eisenhower-whom many
Republicans would like to see nominated.
AS three-time Governor of Minnesota
as an American naval officer, serving in
the Pacific during the last war. and as
an American delegate to the San
Francisco meeting Of the United
States, when the u N. Charter was
written, Mr.. Stassen has shown marked
ability. During his active campaign for
the Republican presidential nomination
in 1948 he won big following. partic-
ularly Of young Republicans. He is only
43 years old.