Evening star., 1951-04-21
The Political Mill
The Political Mil
6. O. P. Certain to Miss
Guiding Of Vundenberg
Senator Always Sought Unity
On U. S. Foreign Policies
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Gen. Douglas Macarthur, has made
his dramatic appearance and truly re-
markable speech before Congress-and
the unity so sorely needed in this coun-
try has still to be achieved. The tragedy
of the long illness and death Of Senator
Arthur Vandenberg Of Michigan is ap-
parent. The Michigan Senator, q
towering figure in the develop
ment of foreign policy, had he
lived and retained his health during the
past year, might have been able to pre-
vent the chaotic conditions which exist.
His plea always was for an American
foreign policy. with partisanship cast
aside. And as the leader of Republicans
in Congress on foreign policy, he would
have been in position to make his
craftsmanship effective both with the
administration and with his own party.
Vandenbergs illness and absence from
the Senate left vacuum which no Re
publican Senator has been able to fill.
Instead the Republicans have fallen apart
at the seams so far as foreign policy is
concerned. For months they have been
divided into factions, particularly as
regards the policy to be followed in
implementing the North Atlantic Secur-
ity Treaty and the military aid to be
accorded the NATO.
Might Have Been Avoided.
The great issue now presented In the
Far EaSt-whether to follow the advice
OF Gen. Macarthur or to 60 along with
the policy of the Truman administra-
tion-might have been avoided Sena-
tor Vandenberg's influence as leader
Of Republican thought on foreign. af.
fairs, plus his persuasive clear sighted
ness, was calculated to have its effect
both at the White House and the State
Department. He was in the main re-
sponsible for the policy which brought
into being the NATO. 1t is entirely
credible that, had he retained his active
participation in the Senate, he would
have been able to bring about sound
and united policy in the Far East.
Senator Vandenberg was great adj
mirer Of Gen. Macarthur. Indeed, at
one time he strongly urged Gen. Mac
Arthur to become an active candidate
for President He had followed Gen.
MacArthur's career as a great soldier
and was impressed by his abilities as a
statesman and administrator in occupied
Japan.
The Michigan Senator's great char
acteristic. aside from his tremendous
appeal as speaker in the Senate and
his ability to clarity issues, was his
constructiveness. He never was merely
q critic. When q problem arose, he
offered solution, not obstruction. This
was true Of him in domestic affairs as
well as in foreign. One Of his great
contributions was Federal deposit
insurance which has made for great
confidence of the people in the banking
system of the country. Although a
member of the minority party in Con.
gress at the time, he was able by his
persistence and logic to make this legis-
lative proposal stick, even though he
had White House opposition.
His transition from near isolationism
when the Second World War engulfed the
United States was tribute to his ability
to meet changed conditions In the world.
He. crossed overland he never faltered
thereafter. - -,
Disturbed by Asia Policy.
It Is no secret that at the time his
illness began he was disturbed over the
administrations policy In the Far East.
His comment was that there had been
real bipartisanship in the handling of
foreign policy in Europe, but that the
minority party had been ignored so far
as the Far East was concerned.
Senator vandenberg was never blind
to the threat the Communist government
OF Russia held for world peace. And the
Russians recognized in him always q
strong opponent-and were active In
denouncing him. AS a United States
delegate to the United Nations meeting
in San Francisco he played an impor-
tant part in the drafting Of the Charter
OF the U. N. He was strong supporter
OF those provisions of the Charter which
called for justice in the settlement Of
international disputes and which per-
mitted the formation of area agreements
for defense against aggression, which
have since developed in the Americas
and in the area covered by the North
Atlantic Security Pact.
He was foremost in stiffening the
backbone of the so-called democratic
nations, and particularly of the United
States. in their attitude toward aggres-
sive policies on the part Of Russia and
her satellites. Some critics referred to
him sneeringly in the past as an inter-
nationalist On the contrary, he was q
great statesman and totally American.