Evening star., 1950-07-02
Trumon Change Of Mind
On Koreo Approved
Writer commends President
For Reversing Himself
By Fronk R. Kent

N
It would be biased critic, indeed, who
would withhold from Mr.. Truman full
credit for the bold decision made by him
last Monday in the Korean crisis. And,
although nearly all our eminent journal
istic global thinkers (who for 10 days
and more had been busily explaining
how impossible 1t was for us to do any
thing effective now were left pretty well
out on limb, 1t is significant how few
tried even to save face.
There were a couple of extremm isola-
zionist Senators who cried that I'll : Presi-
dent had violated the Constitution
Senator Taft's attack was on Mr.. Aclneson
and previous policy but he approved the
general principle" of the President
action. In the House, the only blea
came from Representative Marcantoric
who strictly adheres to the Soviet poin
OF view and cares far less for our Com.
stitution than for an oak leaf in fall
breeze. sss
At this writing. before Kremlin action
and before the military effectiveness OF
our move can be definitely ascertained.
1t. OF course, is impossible to predict the
ultimate outcome. However, it does seem
possible to assert certain specific facts.
Nrst, despite discouraging news, there
IS the conviction here that our swift af1G
flrm action will be successful; that 1t:
denniteiy In our own interests and def
nitely in the interests OF. the peace
seeking people Of the world, the only
possible step to halt an indefensible
aggression by ruthless and implacable
foe.
Es SEc
Second, there is the belief that should
what we have done prove futile either
10 save Korean democracy, for which
we are sponsor, or to prevent the dread
1ul outbreak of q third World, War.
which Is our great objective-in brief,
should the worst occur, it Is still, better
TO have acted as we have than to have
done anything else suggested by either
responsible or irresponsible sources. FOR
the course we have adopted Is not only
the courageous course but the only
logical and safe course. It is true
1t has involved q reversal of Mr..
Truman,s Far Eastern policy and
q reputation Of q. great many things
Secretary Acheson has said on the
subject. The protruding fact, how
ever. Is that there was nothing else to
do. To have done less would not only
have meant a shocking loss of national
self-respect but 1t would have cost us
the confidence Of our Allies against
communism all over the world.
It would have been equivalent to
throwing in the towel before . blow was
struck. Vastly more powerful than the
Soviet nation, we would have been bluffed
and bullied into craven acquiescence
of an utterly intolerable situation With
the Korean invasion, ali that high
minded Trygve Lie stun Of making
overtures to the Russians, and all the
handsome senatorial "across-tfe- table
talk and all the plans Of globaI publicists
for q better understanding Of the Rus
sian mentality" went "out the window"
No one has ventured to recall one OF
these hopeful thoughts since the Truman
statement. 4 It makes no difference
whether Mr.. Truman wrote that state-
ment or whether It was written for him.
which it was. He. signed tt-and that
is the vital thing. No one credited 1t to
any of the former Truman speech
writer's. For example, It Is not nearly
fiamboyant enough for his former lit
erary aide, Clark Clifford. now practicing
what is absurdly called law In wash
ington. There are. some who think it
may have been the product Of Thomas
Finletter, recently named Secretary ,of !,
the Army for, Air.
But, to repeat. that makes no differ
ence. Nor does 1t make much more who
made up his mind for him. The main
thing Is 1t was made up right. = -