Evening star., 1951-02-11


and others with whom he had he
presented his views in a joint
session of Congress and in a radio
speech to the American people.
Gen. Eisenhower is a born opti-
mist who believes that most prob
lens can be solved by steady work
and definite purpose. His trip
through the Atlantic pact coun-
tries and Germany proved to him
that in spite of inevitable draw
backs, the nations of the great
Western coalition eventually can
acquire sufficient strength to re-
sist the Russians, if they are con-
vinced they have at least a $3.50
chance to win.
But in both public utterances
Gen. Eisenhower avoided the
question: Can the Atlantic pact
forces resist a Soviet attack if it
occurs before the end of this
year?" His reluctance to discuss
this matter publicly is under
Standable. First, a Russian at
tack this year is a purely specu-
lative question which only the
Kremlin can answer, and, second,
it would be disheartening for him
to reply that as they stand today
the Allied forces are not capable
of putting up successful fight.
Tries to Avoid Politics
Gen. Eisenhower believes, how
ever, that by a full integration Of
all the available trained armies
which exist in other parts of Eu-
rope, and particularly around the
Mediterranean, a Soviet attack
can be stopped. He is said to be
determined to use his powers of
persuasion and his position as su-
preme commander to bring into
the coalition the forces of those
countries which are anxious to
oppose the Communist drive and
have important military electives
at hand. These nations are Spain,
Greece and Turkey, with the great
possibility also Of including Yugo-
slavia.
Gen. Eisenhower intends to visit
those countries within the next
few months after he has ironed
out the political opposition from
the British and French govern
ments, especially In regard to
Spain.
The supreme commander is anx-
ious not to get mixed up in politics.
He would like to keep a strong
barrier between political and mill
tary problems. But unfortunately
this is not possible in a global
situation with which his command
is confronted. Certain political
equations must be solved, in order
to strengthen the military power
of the coalition. He may have to
knock some heads together, gently,
before he can create the very mini
mum of military force which he
needs Immediately to accomplish
the mission intrusted to him, not
only by the American but also the
Allied governments.
The Spanish army, with its 40
fully trained and partially
equipped divisions, is a tempting
morsel for the supreme commander.
He knows from his recent visit to
Portugal that the Spanish govern
ment is highly interested in OBJ
tanning the needed war materials
from the United States to fill the
gaps which exist in it's army today.
Attlee Hostile to Franco
Spain especially needs anti-air-
craft guns, tanks, radar and means
to improve it's transportation sys-
tenn. These can be made available
from this country in the near
future. The main difficulty is to
convince the British and French
governments that it is in the
interest of the Western coalition
to join Spain's military force. in
one form or another, to that of
the Western nations.
There are two possibilities: ID
To admit Spain, as Portugal has
emphatically suggested, into the
Atlantic pact, and t2) to conclude
a direct military understanding
between Spain and this country in
the same way that we did with
Turkey and Greece In 1947.
The French government, which
has been greatly impressed by Gen.
Eisenhower's presentation of the
military problem. is much more
willing to forget its enmity for the