Evening star., 1953-02-14
Nj. Dulles On Europe and Roshness

Secretary Of state Dulles, In his excellent
report to the Nation on his recent trip to
Western Europe, has given voice to wise and
timely words Of caution that should be taken to
heart by all those prominent Americans par
ticularly In Congress-who have lately been
issuing lot Of on-the-cun and slightly trigger
happy statements on matters Of the most
delicate and explosive nature.
The statements as the ones about
blockading Red China-have reelected merely
personal opinion, not the policy Of President
Eisenhower or the United States Government
Even 80, because Of the prominence Of their
source, they have startled and upset some Of
our overseas friends who are stil bit jittery
about the meaning Of the great political change
that has taken place here In Washington. As
Mr.. Dulles has said, "they now have to deal
with new Republican administration after
having worked for 20 years. In war and peace
with Democratic administration. To them,
as to many Americans Z Republican administra-
ton Is . novelty, and the unknown always
carries certain amount Of fear"
According to Mr. Dulles, his European trip
with Mr. Stassen has done much to dispel this
element Of fear in so far as allied governments
are concerned. But he has been at pains to
warn that the same does not hold true for large
segments Of the public over there or for opposi-
ton political leaders who ''seize upon incidents
and upon statements made here which seem to
them to be reckless" and which "unscrupulous
persons" cite as evidence that our country is
not to be trusted with the leadership of the free
world. That is why the Secretary of State.
emphasizing how imperative it is to win and
hold the confidence of those whom We need as
friends and allies" has appealed to all Ameri-
cans to remember that we do carry astremendous
responsibility, that any false step could be
disastrous, that this is a moment in history far
too critical for rash words or actions, and that
we must therefore be "sober and restrained in
our national conduct" even as we avoid timidity,
indecision, weakness and vacillation
It is in that spirit that Mr.. Dulles has
assessed the situation in free Europe. He has
come back from there feeling moderately opti-
mistic. He has found that the European
Defense Community Is mot dead but only
sleeping" and that there Is q good chance" that
1t will be brought into being in the relatively
near future In any case, he has strongly urged
the six signatory powers france, West Ger
many, Italy, Belgium the Netherlands and
Luxembourgl to move as swiftly as possible to
correct the somewhat disconcerting" fact that
they are months behind schedule in ratifying
the edo treaty and he has indicated that he
believes his appeal will be needed.
Mr.. Dulles has based his qualified optimism
on the progress already achieved toward Euro
pean unity with projects like the Schuman Plan.
He has based 1t, too, on his finding that the
leaders of the allied governments are "men of
vision and stature" who realize that the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization viii contain a
fatal weakness unless the EDO and its projected
six-nation internationalized army become reali-
ties. Given those realities plus sobriety and
restraint in our own American conduct, the free
nations can build in the West Q formidable
common front against aggression. That Is the
sum Of Mr.. Dulles latest report to the Nation.