Evening star., 1951-07-15
Administration Blamed
For Lack of Unity
Writer Cites Political Angle
On Korean Negotiations
By Fronk R. Kent


One effect here Of the Korean nego-
tiations, the final outcome of which, de-
spite stoppage of actual fighting, will
not be known for weeks to come (and
may not be good at alb is violent out
break OF partisan politics. Both Re-
publicans and Democrats have con-
tributed to this. It appears definitely
to end the last slender hope Of a revival
Of anything like a bipartisan foreign
policy.
Until and unless general war forces
unity there will be no unity in either
defense effort or the conduct of foreign
affairs. On the contrary, there now
seems practical certainty that foreign
policy will be the main issue in the
presidential campaign next year. The
full propaganda power of the admins
tration Is already employed. It's foreign
policy and those who sponsored it will
be hotly eulogized by one side and saw
agely attacked by the other.
II bipartisanship is to be achieved
the initiative must come from the party
in power. If its leaders initiate policies,
they also must take the first steps to-
ward the abandonment of politics. Few
will dispute that, but even fewer will
contend that, despite the employment
of Mr.. Dulles and ex-senator Cooper,
any real step in that direction has been
taken. Certainly the stuff emanating
from administration sources since the
Korean truce was seriously suggested
contradicts any such idea. Almost from
the day OF Mr.. Malik's speech the Dem
ocratic politicians by whom Mr.. Tru-
man is surrounded and whom he sees
more frequently than any one else
notably Chairman Of the National Conn
mittee William M. Boyle-have concell-
trated upon the political benefit that
might accrue to him and them. A stream
OF propaganda is pouring fourth from
the various party publicity agencies to
the general effect that the proposed
truce is proof of the brilliant success
OF the Truman policies in Korea; that
the end Of the fighting there means his
triumphant denomination and re-elec-
ton: that he now will be forced by
popular demand to run again, ETC., etc.
+
Naturally. the Republican reaction is
to combat all this. Their propagandists
point out that another brilliant sue
cess" such as the one in Korea would
sink the country: that the truce leaves
us exactly where we started-on the
38th Parallel; that there have been
10000 American casualties in Korea
in one year; that the cost in money and
materials has been stupendouS and, even
hn IoI 1F
terrific drain on our economy is Just
not IN sight, ETC., etc. This Democratic
Republican flood of partisan propaganda
Is supplemented by the advocates Of
Gen. Eisenhower, who urge that peace
in Korea increases the chances of his
Republican nomination and might bring
about Endorsement, by the Democratic
convention.
The reasoning here is not easy to
follow, but the point is that in WASH
ington Democrats. Republicans and the
professional liberals alike have rushed
to interpret developments in Korea in
terms of partisan politics, apparently
concerned only Secondarily with their
effect upon the world crisis. Here was
an opportunity for the administration
to refrain from claiming credit for a
brilliant success; to ignore the politi-
cal advantages for 1852 and sound a
genuinely bipartisan note But that op-
portunity has been lost in the clanor Of
its politicians and publicists about the
political benefits to Mr.. Truman. How
ever. when one considers the Presi-
dents recent appointments to the Fed
eral bench and the contemptuous way
he has swept aside the recommendations
OF the bar associations for those of the
politicians, it is hardly surprising that
his aides should view the Korean situa-
tion from the political angle. That Is
the recognized White House angle.