Evening star., 1952-07-14
Eisenhower and the World

It is understandable that the free world
abroad, especially Western Europe has reacted as
it has to General Eisenhowers victory in Chicago.
The reaction, as expressed In newspaper COM
ment, has ranged from quiet satisfaction to
figurative shouts OF elation. Only on Formosa,
where the Chinese Nationalists have had a strong
liking for Senator Taft's Far Eastern ideas, has
the initial response been one of some disap-
pointment. As for the Communists, of course,
they have taken the line expected of them:
Namely, that the Republican presidential candi-
date is nothing but warmongering tool Of
fascist" and "imperialistic" Wall Street.
Particularly as regards the free Europeans,
the enthusiasm for the Chicago decision springs
from factors that are as powerful as they are
obvious. First of all, General Eisenhower is
better known and more popular over there than
any other living American This is SO, not only
because Of his having led the armed forces Of
the West in smashing the Nazi-Fascist Axis,
but also because of the great and historic
role he has played in breathing life and spirit
into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
In fact, the esteem in which he Is held by the
peoples OF the NATO community is one of the
phenomena OF our time. Besides liking him very
much as human being, they have faith in
him because of what he has accomplished and
because he in turn, by both word and deed, has
made clear his faith in them-faith in their
resolve and capacity to 60 forward with the
United States in building up an invincible COM
mon front against the threat of Red aggression.
BY way of contrast, Senator Taft is relative
stranger to the Western Europeans Beyond that,
they have long been mistrustful Of him because
of his seeming belittlement Of their Importance,
his original vote against the Atlantic Pact, his
favorable attitude toward the Macarthur Asia
first philosophy, and his partial endorsement at
the same time of Herbert Hoover's call for con-
verting the inter er-American community into
kind of isolated Gibraltar" UNDERSTANDABLE
enough for these and similar reasons, many Of
our friends abroad have had the impression
right or wrong-that he would If President, re-
verse or drastically modify our Nations present
course and lead us into a retreat that could be
disastrous for the entire free world. So it is not
surprising that his Chicago defeat has reassred
them and that they have hailed the Eisenhower
nomination as guarantee that the United
States, regardless of who Is elected in November,
will make no crucial change in its foreign policy
and will continue to exercise vigorous inter-
national leadership
This Interpretation of the Chicago outcome
max do an injustice to Mr.. Taft's capacity for
craftsmanship However, in view of his past
speaking and voting record, the Western Euro
peans cannot be blamed for feeling as they do.
A few months ago many Of them feared that the
NATO alliance might be hard hit by General
Esenhower's departure in pursuit OF the Repub-
lican nomination, but now that he has won that
nomination, which may well make him the
next President, they feel a new degree Of con-
hdence. It is confidence that viii be felt as well
by free Nations elsewhere in the world His
victory In that sense has significance extending
far beyond our own shores Only the Communist
conSpirators have reason to regret 1t.