Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-24
The Political Mill
The Political Mill
Softening-Up Attitude
On Preparedness Seen
House Republicans RebeIIing
Against UNIT Measure
By Gould Lincoln


The Korean war may turn out to be
one of the most important in which
this country has ever engaged-it may
prevent, or at least delay indefinitely,
third world war. Notwithstanding
the boasts of Red China, backed up by
Red Russia, that the United Nations
forces in Korea would be hurled into
the sea, not only have these forces not
been driven into the sea but they have
administered terrific losses, in lives and
In materiel, on the Reds and have recov-
cred nearly all of South Korea. This
war, too, definitely informed Soviet
Russia, new totalitarian empire, that
1t Is not to be permitted to gobble up
the world piecemeal. Even more i'm
portant, 1t has shaken the American
people and the American Government
out of lethargic condition, a condition
which might have proved fatal in an
other year or two.
A report of Secretary of Defense Mar
shall shows that the armed forces of
the United States have been doubled
since the Communists of North Korea
invaded the southern republic, and have
now attained a total strength of more
than 100000. This approaches the
number of men we had under arms in
the First World War. It means that
the country is on the way to prepared
ness. There have been reports, too, Of
important advances in the matter Of
atomic weapons, and other weapons.
No Time to Relax Now.
1t is no time, however, for Congress
rad he IN elf ho ND
not any more than it was time to defeat
the proper extension of the Selective
Service Act in the summer of 1941, just
a few months before Pearl Harbor. Yet
that is just what may happen If new
feeling of security lulls us.
Today there is forming, among the
Republicans of the House. rebellion
against the Universal Service and Train
ing bill. 1t was similar rebellion, by
Republicans. that almost ditched the
Selective Service Act in 1941-when the
House by the margin of one vote passed
the bill extending the life of that act.
Now the Republicans in the House are
out to throw monkey wrenches into the
pending bill. and particularly to elm
mate that part which provides perma-
nent system of universal military train
ing. Such an effort by a group Of
Republican Senators failed completely
when similar bill was recently before
that body
This attitude of House Republicans
is dlscouraging, particularly at a time
when, through action by the Senate,
UNIT seemed in a sure way to adop-
ton as system for building up and
maintaining trained reserves for the
armed forces of the United States.
There is no longer the clear-sighted,
patriotic Jim" Wadsworth of New
York IN the House to rally some Re-
publicans to the cause of national de-
Tense. He and about a score of other
House Republicans saved the Selective
Service Act in 1941.
Both Houses on Vacation.
The House has gone off for a ten
day vacation, without taking up and
acting on the Universal Service aud
Training bill-another indication that
softening-up process in Congress APP
pears at work. The Senate has cor
tented itself with a five-day Easte..
recess. By lengthy debate, however.
it delayed voting on the important
troops for Europe" resolutions pend
ing before the upper house until after
it gets back to work To its credit,
however, it may be said the Senate
did act on the very important Service
and Training measure.
Last December. Congress and the
American people were fully conscious
of dangerous situation. The United
Nations forces in Korea were in gen.
eral retreat. Congress and the people
took steps to build up our strength
and did not let grass grow under their
feet. But now the reverse attitude
is building up.
Even if our successes in Korea lead
eventually to an end of hostilities-as
it is devoutly hoped they will-there
should be no letdoWn in the deter
mination to have this country mill
tarily strong and so a deterrent to Com
muniSt aggression. Nor should there
be any hesitation in building up the
strength of the North Atlantic pact
forces under Gen. Eisenhower.
Too often we have stuck our heads
in the sand until it was almost too late.