Evening star., 1950-04-17
Truman Strengthens
6. @. P. IsoIationists
By Campaign Remark
Assertion Thot He'll Fight
On Foreign Policy Issue
Blow to Bipartisan Effort
By David Laurence

OIVW 10 DiPuTtISuH 6IIOTl
By David Laurence
President Truman has just
given the supporters Of the "bi-
partisan" foreign policy idea in
Congress something more to worry
about.
MIR. Truman has chosen to an
nounce that he intends to cam
paign on foreign policy issues in
the autumn congressional elec-
tions. He said so at a meeting
with members of a United States
commission to the United Nations.
1t was not only the wrong place
for that kind of utterance-as
politics is supposed to be taboo in
international matterS-but the
pronouncement leaves an innuen-
do of criticism against the entire
Republican Party, including those
who are supporting the admin
istration's foreign policy.
The President made no differ
entiations. He did not say he
would campaign for those Repub-
lican nominees who support the
bipartisan or international con-
cept. His own efforts and those
Of the Democratic National Com
mittee which he directs will be
centered, Of course. on defeating
all Republicans. The President
spoke extemporaneously but the
exact words used, as given out
officially by the White House, are
as follows:
g.. We have another program
coming up that will be somewhat
similar to that of 1948.
News to Dewey.
"This time we are trying to
elect a Congress that believes in
international cooperation, whole
heartedly-a Congress that be-
lieves the welfare of the United
States demands a continuing for
eign policy that takes into con-
sideration the whole globe. in
stead of just one country or one
district or one state"
Just what did the President
mean when he referred to "this
time" as contrasted with the 1948
election? Does he imply that he
won the 1948 campaign on the
issue that his party alone believed
in international cooperation?
This will be news to Governor
Dewey who all through the cam
paign kept John Foster Dulles at
work trying to keep politics out
of foreign policy.
Does it mean that Mr.. Truman
believes that only the Democratic
Party contains members who be-
lieve "wholeheartedly" in inter-
national cooperation? If so, this
will be surprise to Senator Van
denberg and Senator Smith OF
New Jersey and other eminent
Republicans who have voted over
whelmingly in Congress for the
Marshall Plan and other measures
of international cooperation.
The speech by the President was
made to the United States Ma
tional Commission for the United
Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Orangization, known
as UNESCO. Is the American
commission to be regarded as a
group expected to use its influence
in domestic politics! Should a
President of the United States in
troduce party politics and discus
sion of campaign issues before
such a body? Is it not likely to
arouse the very partisanship which
for the last few weeks prominent
Republicans have been trying to
eliminate from the discussion Of
foreign policy?
Encourages IsolatiOnists.
Mr.. Truman may have un-
Willingly done a disservice to the
cause of nonpartisanship in inter-
national affairs. What he said will
encourage the numerically small
element inside the Republican
Party who are isolationist at heart
to endeavor to make political
capital out of international ques-
tions. Unless he comes out for Re-
publican candidates. he will have
verified the charge that no matter
what support an individual Re-
publican gives to the administra-
tion's foreign policy-such as John
Foster Dulles gave in the Senate
last year-the Democratic Party
leader in the White House refuse.
to recognize such service in tn.
only place where restraint has beer
urged, namely. in political con.
tests.
The big question now being ask.
ed on Capitol Hill is this Wher
President Truman begins cam
paigning next month for the cleo
: ton Of q Democratic Congress
which Is his right, Of course-wil
he base his partisan appeal on th'
platform laid down IN his informa
speech to the United States dele,
cation to UNESCO? If he does
then the epitaph on the grave O.
bipartisan" foreign policy ma.
have to be inscribed, KILLED b,
the leader Of the Democrati,
Party"
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