Evening star., 1952-12-27
The Political Mill
Let Stain Suggest Talks
In Regular Channels
U. 5. People Would Think
More Seriously Of Ideo
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

more SerIously OF ldeu
By Gould Lincoln
The Importance of the Korean hot
war and the colder war waged in other
quarters by the Soviet Union against the
United States and the rest of the free
nations is again emphasized by the
world interest in Premier Stalin's Christ
mas Day statement to the New York
Times that he was desirous of seeing the
Korean conflict brought to close and
that he was willing to confer with
PreSident-elect Eisenhower face to face.
1t has been no secret that Gen. Eisen-
hover has placed the solution of the
Korean war and emergence of world
peace at the top of his program in the
coming administration. Indeed, it was
in the hope that an Eisenhower ad-
ministration would give greater hope
for such ends that the American people
voted him into Office. Naturally, Gen.
Eisenhower will give this latest emana-
tion from Premier Stain the closest
scrutiny Again and again the general,
during the recent campaign, declared
the foremost issue of the day was world
peace. 1t was in the hope of gaining
information which would aid him in
bringing the Korean war to an end that
he recently went to the battle front in
the Far East.
May Be Propaganda Move.
The desire for peace, however, will not
blind Gen. Eisenhower or his advisers
to the fact the Stain proposal for a
conference. made in Prime Minister
Stalin's replies to questions propounded
by the New York Times correspondent,
James Reston, may be merely another
bit of propaganda by the Soviet ruler
another effort to show the world that
he, Stain, is desirous of peace and to
gain the favor of world opinion.
When and if he makes a proposal to
confer with the head of the United
States Government, through regular
government and diplomatic channels.
the American people will begin to think
more seriously of the wisdom Of such a
conference. The very fact that the
proposal has not been made in that way
arouses skepticism.
The present message from Prime
Minister Stain, while friendly in tone,
is too nebulous, too lacking in detail.
The American people and Gen. Eisen-
hover will have to be assured that, II
a conference between the leaders were
actually held and agreements reached.
the Soviet government would faithfully
carry them out.
There has been nothing in recent
history to create confidence that the
Russian government will live up to any
agreement.
Other Talks Eav0red Russia
Further, the past meetings of the
United States Chief Executive with
Prime Minister Stain produced agree
ments, as at Yalta, that were clearly to
the advantage of the Soviet Union and
at the expense of nations that were
then friends of the United States, nota-
bly,, Nationalist China. Even the agree
ments entered into by Mr.. Stain which
seemed to give assurance of freedom Of
action of peoples-as in the case of Po-
land-Were later f1agrantly ignored.
Neither Gen. Eisenhower nor the Ameri-
can people are deSirous of falling into
any further traps baited by the Soviet.
1t seems clear that the President
elect will demand a different approach,
with some guarantee that Prime Min
lister Stain and the Soviet government
are in reality anxious for peace and for
a proper settlement of the Korean con-
flict, before he gives any assent to a
meeting with Mr.. Stain. It is also clear
that Gen. Eisenhower, who is not yet
President of the United States, will
make no commitment at this stage. He
does not take Office until January 20.
He Said 1t Before.
At first blush, the new Stain pro-
posal seems little more, if any. than the
Soviet rulers earlier statements that he
would be willing to confer with the
head of the Government of the United
States. His statement, too, that he saw
no reason to believe that the SovietS
and the United States must inevitably
come to war, and that they could live at
peace in the world, is no more nor less
than what Mr.. Stain told Harold E.
Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota
and soon to have an important post in
the new administration, several years
ago.
Coming as it did almost on the heels
of the vicious attacks made on the
United States by Andrei A. Gromyko.
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister, at
the United Nations meeting just before
Christmas, it has even more the ear
marks of propaganda and an effort to
confuse.
Gen. Eisenhower has in the past
strongly indicated that one way Of
bringing peace-and a peace Of
permanent nature-was to convince
the Soviet government it would be
folly to think Of war; that a conflict
with the United States and its allies
would be suicidal. That way means
the upbuilding of strength on the part
of this country and the other free ma
tions-until the Russians, who seem to
recognize nothing except force as an
argument, are willing to come to
terms.
Possibly the course which Gen.
Eisenhower will determine upon in re-
gard to the war in Korea may have it's
effect on any negotiations with the
Soviet government. That course can
not be fully developed nor put into
effect until after he has become Presi-
dent-and until after conference with
the members Of the United Nations
now allied with this country in the
Korean war.