Evening star., 1951-11-25
"A Foreign Policy for Americans
Toft Says Military Assistance Pledge to Europe
May Leod to Defect Of u S. on Battlefield
By Senotor Robert A. Toft


We have no choice now excep
to complete as rapidly as possible
the arming of Western Europe i
it desires to be armed. That il
the policy decided on in the At
lantic pact. and I am in favor o
carrying out this commitment, a.
worked out by the Council ant
Gen. Eisenhower under the pact.
In the beginning of 1851, how
ever. we were suddenly commit
ted to a new project. without an.
consultation with Congress ant
without any justification from thu
terms of the Atlantic pact. Tha
is the program to build up a grea
international army on the con
tinent of Europe with a substan
tial commitment of American lant
troops.
Urges Limit on Troops.
I think it should be made clear
first, that this was in no way
contemplated by the Atlantic pac
and that the United States is il
no way obligated to engage in any
such project because of the rati.
fication of the Atlantic pact. Tht
proposal. violates the genera
principles of foreign policy which
l have advocated. but do fee
that the special situation in Eu-
rope juStifieS the Stationing of q
limited number of American
troops on the continent of Europe
I believe it should be limited anc
that no further commitment
should be made beyond the 81,
divisions already promised. with
out thorough reconsideration ol
the whole policy and definite fur
ther action by Congress itself.
Congress could never obtain
from Gen. Marshall any definite
statement that six divisions were
the limit of an American contri-
button in time of peace, and ir
view OF the past history of the
administration it is reasonable tC
feel that in another year we will
be asked for more divisions te
carry out this original plan.
The Senate finally dealt with
the situation by approving the
general contribution of six d.vi-
sions to Europe but indicating
that the President should return
to Congress for authority to COM
NIT any larger army to the con-
tinent of Europe in time of peace
Should Take the Initiative.
I did not think we should fierce
our assistance on any natiol,
which does not really wish to arm
itself. I did not think we shoulc
insist that the European nation.
form great international army
unless they take the initiative anc
request us to help them in thai
project. If these nations really
do desire to build up their owr
arms and if 1t appears that thai
defense has a reasonable chance
of success I believe we shoulc
commit some limited number o1
divisions to work with
them to show that we are moi
evading the toughest part of the
defense program provided by the
Atlantic pact.
Such a program, however
never ought to be key point in
our strictly American military
And the initiative
should be theirs and not ours.
I have also viewed the proposed
European army project with con-
Germ. because I believe it is likely
to grow beyond the capacity OF
the United States and therefore
to threaten its entire economic
Gen. Eisenhower has made
progress in perSuading the Euro
pean pact members that their own
safety depends on arming them
selves adequately in a united de-
Tense against possible Russian at
tack. Certainly a Western Eu-
rope adequately armed and pre-
pared to meet any Russian mill
tary threat is a tremendous addi-
ton to the security of the United
States. I have said that I think
It justif1es our temporary contri-
button of some American divisions
10 stimulate that effort. Our aim
should be to make Europe suffi-
GENTLY strong so that American
troops can be withdrawn from the
continent Of Europe.
Danger of Land War.
I am concerned about the seri-
BUS danger of committing our
greatest efforts to land war on
The continent of Europe against
The program which the
administration is pursuing appar-
entity contemplates that we send,
Or promise to send, to Europe
within a few weeks of the begin
ming of the war enough Ameri-
can troops to defend the pact
countries. including Norway, Den
mark, Holland, Belgium and
Italy. I do not believe we can
prepare in time of peace for any
such project without straining our
economic ability beyond the limit
We also risk the loss of a war
a loss which in the end might
threaten the very security of the
United States itself. Neither Ma
poleon nor Hitler was ever able
finally to defeat Russia on land
although each had more men than
we are now planning to provide
certainly in comparison to the
number of Russians then avail
able.
I somewhat doubt whether the
Russians really can deliver ar
atomic bomb. Nevertheless, we
are proposing to spend some S;
billion building air shelters ir
this country to protect our people
and cities against Russian atom
bombs delivered all the way from
Russia itself.
If that is a possibility, ther
surely there is danger that the
Russians can destroy all of the
ports our Army may be using or