Evening star., 1951-02-27
Senator Taft vs.. Senator Taft

Such DISTINGUISHED Republicans as Governor
Dewey, Senator Duff, Harold Stassen and John
Sherman Cooper might be called to testify
against the views which Senator Taft has ex-
pressed in the matter of sending additional
troops to Europe. The best witness against Sena-
tor Taft, however, is Senator Taft.
After his extended discussion yesterday of
the legal questions involved Senator Taft said:
"In short, my conclusion would be that the Presi-
dent has no right to send troops to foreign
country if that action is designed to or will in all
probability involve us in war" But what would
Senator Taft's conclusion be If the sending of
additional troops to Europe, as General Esen-
hover believes, would diminish rather than in
crease the possibility of a war in which, under
the Atlantic Pact, we would have to fight?
Senator Taft fears that the creation OF
European army and strengthening 1t to- the point
where it could defend Europe might precipitate
a Russian attack In other words, he thinks the
Russians might not wait If that Is correct
estimate, the logical thing would be to build no
European army and to pull out the 100000 or
more American troops now in Europe. But Sena-
tor Taft does not advocate this. He thinks we
would be safer If we had no army in Europe. But
since we have responsibilities as an occupying
power, and since 100000 of our troops already
are in Europe he says "I think it is reasonable
(subject, of course, to congressional approvaD
Senator Taft also makes an extended argu-
ment against the economic risks involved in the
defense program. Evidently he does not agree
with Mobilization Director Charles E. Wilson that
the present program is well within our capacity,
and that, barring all-out war, the next two or
three years will bring such an increase in Ameri-
can production that we will be over the hump
and that most controls can be relaxed or aban-
doned.
What Senator Taft's counsel boils down to
is not that of an isolationist but of defeatist.
He is greatly concerned, and rightly so, with the
consequences, both economic and military, if
this country should undertake the defense of the
world against communism. What he overlooks
is that policy dictated by his own doubts, fears
and hesitations would increase the likelihood
that this country would have to stand alone.
There is only one real argument for an
American contribution in manpower to Euro
pean army, or as Mr.. Taft prefers, an interna-
tional army The argument is that, aided and
encouraged by our contribution, the nations Of
Western Europe will raise the armies necessary
perhaps go divisions-for their own defense.
General Eisenhower and our other ranking mill
tary men believe there Is a good prospect that
this force be raised that if raised it can de-
fend Europe, and that, therefore, the existence
of such force would greatly lessen rather than
increase the danger Of Russian attack In
Europe which would lead inevitably to World
War III.
If this force can be raised, and especially If
1t serves to discourage a war, the fears and
doubts that plague Senator Taft would vanish.
1t will never be raised however If the project is
approached in the defeatist spirit of Senator
Taft's statement. 1t is in this respect in his re-
luctance or inability to make a clearcut choice
OF the lesser risk that Senator Taft looms as the
most effective witness against himself