Milford chronicle., 1952-04-11

can do real damage to their own
nation with the atomic bomb and
otherwise. their purpose Of military
aggression in Eurasia itself may
well wither.
If they are convinced that they
cannot achieve world conquest by
military means they are likely 10
turn to their old love Of propaganda
and infiltration. Gradually, peace
full relations in Europe may grow
again, for the desire Of human be-
ings for peace and comfort and nor
NAL human relations is a powerful
force which will constantly reassert
itself. -->
/ do not believe that our sea
and air power should be used for ag-
gressive purposes, but ! do believe
it should be available to assist those
nations which ask for assistance to
defend themselves against Commu-
mist aggression, to the extent that
such power can be successfully and
effectively used.
In the first place, we should be
willing to assist with our own sea
and air forces any island nations
which desire our help. Among those
islands are Japan. Formosa. the
Philippines, Indonesia. Australia,
and New Zealand; on the Atlantic
side. Great Britain, of course.
Not Island Alone
The power of great sea and air
forces is not necessarily limited to
island nations. The policy / suggest
certainly does not abandon to Com
munist conquest the continental ma
tions.
In the first place, we give economic
assistance to many such nations,
providing they want that assistance
and use it effectively against COM
munisn. We give arms, as we are
bound to do under the Atlantic Pact
and as we are now doing in Indo-
China, in Greece, in Turkey, In
Formosa. An adequate modern air
force should be able to bomb the
communications Of any aggressor.
its army and air bases, and its man.
ufacturing plants and thus not only
deter aggression but seriously In
terfere with its success.
Probably strategic air power can.
not prevent a land advance, but It
can certainly play powerful part
in the defense against such an ad-
vance and in the ultimate outcome
of the war.
The commitment of substantial
American land army to continental
soil is much more serious prob
lem. Broadly speaking, it is far less
practical. Its expense is capable Of
indefinite expansion, once we are
involved, as we have seen even In
the Korean War. It is fighting the
enemy on his chosen ground.
AS a general policy, I do not be-
lieve that in time Of peace we should
commit American troops to con-
tinental soil. or in time Of war un-
less we are reasonably certain Of
success through the efforts Of our
own Army and cur allies.
A Dangerous Experiment
The entire continent of Africa IS
connected with Asia. and certainly
we might have to assist in defending
the Suez Canal, as a means Of main
tanning our connections by sea and
of defending Africa, where there are
many strategic materials, valuable
air bases. and a threat to South
America.
1t may be possible to assist Spain.
I should suppose that Singapore and
the Malay peninsula could be de-
Tended by land troops If sea and air
power is available on both sides ,of
the peninsula.>
The extension Of such aid by land
troops, however, Is a dangerous ex-
pertinent, as we found in Korea.
doubt that, on principle. we should
enter into any definite commitments
in advance in time Of peace, or un-
dertake the job at all, unless we
are sure it Is well within our capac-
ity and almost certain Of success.
A Greet Wuste?
In a speech on Jan. 5, 1851, I sug-
gested that 5000, 900 men in uniform
should be about the limit and that
perhaps a study Of military prac.
tees would show that we could get
the same results with 5000, 600 men
in uniform as are now sought with
S.5OO,0O0 men. To layman there
always seems to be great waste
Of manpower in the armed services.
Is it necessary, for instance, to em-
ploy $4,000 men in uniform and q, 600
civilians in order to put a division
Of $4,000 men in the front Line?
We must be reasonable and selec-
tive in determining the military
projects which we are going to
undertake to meet the Russian
threat.
NEXT WEEK: TIE problems
I Of defense Of Europe and arms
! and economic aid 70 those na-
/. tiOns.
CFrom "A Foreign Policy for Ameri-
: cana" Copyright 1881 by Robert "a. Taft.
l. Published by Doubleday and Companys
!. Inc. Released by The Register and grtb-
: une Syndicate and WNU9
alist newspaper, Kung Sheung, said
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