Evening star., 1951-01-06
The Political Mill
Toft Speech Studied
Both Here and Abroad
Challenge on Foreign Policy
Not on IsoIotionist Talk
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

py 0Ouio Lincoln
Senator Taft of Ohio has delivered
in the Senate challenging discussion
of international affairs and the policy
which should be followed by the United
States. Coming from the leading Repub-
lcan figure in the Senate-one who may
become a leading contender for the
Republican presidential nomination in
1952-it will be given careful scrutiny
both here and abroad.
Taft's was not an isolationist speech
although 1t was critical of the adninis-
tration and the steps which 1t has taken
up to date. Admitting that the spread
of communism is real, the Ohio Senator
said:
America must be the leader in the
battle to prevent the spread of COM
munism and preserve the liberty of the
world"
That does not sound like isolationism
for the United States. And while
Senator Taft emphasized that in the
field OF military operations the strongest
position of this country is and should
be in the air and on the sea, he did
not close the door to the use Of land
forces anywhere. In fact, he said that
the use of land forces may be advisable.
opposes commitment.
What he did oppose, however, was the
advance commitment of a large land
army of. Americans in Europe-while
this country is still at peace with Russia
Further, he expressed the opinion that
this country should not force upon
Western Europe the creation of a large
international army, especially if the
nations of Europe were not desirous of
the creation of such an army.
And particularly was Senator Taft
insistent that President Truman should
not commit this country to sending a
large land army to Western Europe
while peace still prevails-without the
consent of Congress. He challenged the
Presidents authority to so commit
the country without first obtaining
the consent Of Congress to such action.
Congratulated by Many.
1t became evident Immediately that
the problems advanced by Senator Taft
are going to lead to much debate both
in and out Of Congress. Indeed, he was
congratulated by both Republican and
Democratic Senators-some of whom
did not agree with his proposed course
of action-on having launched the de-
bate in the Senate. His challenge Of
the power of the President to order
troops to Europe. without first obtain
ing new authority from Congress- was
quickly questioned. AS commander in
chief OF the armed forces, the President
has great powers-and the precedents
uphold his authority to send troops
where he deems it necessary to protect
the interests of the American people.
Basically, however. the policy which
is now to be adopted is the meat Of the
entire problem Neither Congress nor
the people have been taken into the
confidence of the Truman administra-
tion regarding that policy. They do not
know what that policy may be.
That policy may if properly handled,
become bipartisan policy. 1t cannot,
however, be bipartisan foreign policy
unless it is a policy on which both
parties agree. This makes it imperative
that the administration give considera-
tlon to the views of the minority. If the
President does not choose to arrive at
foreign policy in that way, it is his
right.
Senator Taft charged that President
Truman went beyond his authority when
he sent troops into Korea, without first
consulting Congress He argued that
9iAor SouAAtly IL LOW III SIlOOGlQg war
with the Chinese Reds and that our
hands are tied because the President
has placed our armed forces under the
banner of the United Nations-which
will not declare armed operations against
the Chinese. He argued that Gen.
Macarthur should be allowed to bomb
the Chinese sources of supplies in Man
churia and elsewhere and that Chang
Kai-shek and his forces on Formosa
should be brought into the war against
the Reds.
Mr.. Taft does not propose that we
should abandon Western Europe to Com
munist Russia, or that we should aban-
don Asia to the Red Chinese acting for
Russia. Like others he is demanding
that We should not undertake impossible
tasks There is certain mobility in
his thinking which does not clash with
that of Senate Lodge of Massachusetts.
Republican member of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee who does not wish us
to commit ourselves either to a defense
line on Cape Cod or in the Himalayan
Mountains.