Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-29
Toft's Views on Going 1t Alone in Korea

must be undertaken by those who oc-
cupy Western Europe After all, there
are at least 225 million of them, so per
cent more people than we have in
the United States.
I have always been concerned that
once our troops are in Europe, the
Russians would be able to bomb all
OF the factories and communication
lines behind them. One atomic bomb
would probably destroy a French port
for year. and or 10 bombs would
cut Of most means of supplying our
soldiers or withdrawing them in case
of retreat. If we are worried here in
this country about the dropping of
Russian bombs on American cities and
factories, surely it is ten times as easy
for them to bomb Western Europe and
its ports. Or they could leave Europe
alone and devote themselves to a
bombing Of this country, in which case
our European expenses would be of
doubtful value.
But there is another difficulty about
maintaining the general policy of
unified worldwide opposition to COM
munism by all free nations: We have
to have not only the written word. but
the real sympathetic support of our
allies in that job. Recent events in
France and England indicate that they
are more than anxious to settle with
Russia, and resume as much trade as
possible, which means that as long as
Russia talks nicely, the whole military
alliance against Russia is weak, even
though military preparations behind
the lines continue undated.
Secretary Dulles has tried to re-
assure the Iron Curtain nations that
we are not going to make a deal with
Russia giving the Communists a zone
OF influence over all the Iron Curtain
countries. 1t seems clear that Mr..
Churchill and the French administra-
ton would be willing to assign that
zone of influence gladly and abandon
the Poles, the Czechs, the Hungarians
and the Romanians to the tender
mercies Of Soviet Russia in return for
some cutting Of ornaments. freer trade
and promises to behave in the future.
The present administration has the
job Of trying to maintain this world
wide alliance against Soviet Russia.
We have spent billions for that pur-
pose. ! hope that it can be carried
through, and only raise here the
doubt as to whether it is in fact pos
sible over any long period of years. It
is pretty hard for the United States
to claim the right to cut off trade
channels which have existed for GEN.
turtles. I have no doubt about the
desirability of the policy if it does not
go beyond our economic strength, but
I do doubt its possibility.
All that I can urge is two different
kinds of tolerance to this tolerant
body. The first is that we be tolerant
of the situation of every country, that
we try to understand their problems
and not force upon them policy they
do not approve, either by the pressure
of grants of money or grants of SOL
diers. No doubt they will be glad to
get these, but they will be Of little use
to us unless the policy which they are
supposed to enforce is the determined
policy of the country concerned.
Second, I urge upon you tolerance
Of those who are trying their best to
conduct our foreign affairs. I think
already they know more about the
realities Of the situation than those
who preceded them. T'know that they
are inspired with the best of good will
toward all nations. They have to meet
what seem to me the most difficult
problems Of foreign policy the United
States has ever faced.