Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-30
The Political Miu
Eisenhower Asserts
His Leadership Again
Opponents Are Disappointed
As Hoped-for Dispute Fails
By Gould Lincoln

If the opponents Of the Eisenhower
administration have recently hoped for
a disastrous split between the President
and Senator Taft, majority leader Of
the Senate, over foreign policy-partic-
ularly in Korea and the Far East-they
appear doomed to disappointment. It's
an old story that the President and Sen
ator Taft do not always see eye to eye
on matters Of foreign policy. It's finally
becoming an old story. too, that Taft
and Eisenhower are q team, working for
the success Of the present Republican
administration and for the United
States.
This does not mean that Senator Taft
abandonS his right to express his per-
sonal opinions or that President Eisen-
hover does not recognize his right to do
50. On the contrary, the President adj
mitS this. Senator Taft, for his part,
expects the President to state the views
OF the Government as its executive
head. In the record made over the last
few months, the Republican leader of
the Senate has not only gone along with
the President. but has done much to
uphold his hands. So the recent fare
up over what should be done in Korea.
with the Senator suggesting that if a
truce cannot be made, this country
should go 1t alone" and the President
d1scarding such suggestion, Is passing
into history.
Asserts Leadership.
The President, in his Thursday press
conference. declared his leadership in
the matter Of foreign relations in no
uncertain words. That Senator Taft
will undertake to deny that leadership,
or Will undertake to split the Republican
Party-particularly in the Senate-over
that question Of leadership is unbeliev-
able. Senator Taft, like President Eisen-
hover, wants peace in Korea and in the
world. Neither is possible If the Chief
Executive, who speaks for the United
States, is hamstrung by q serious di-
vision in his own party
Critics Of President Eisenhower have
complained that he avoids-or has
Notwithstanding his leadership It
may be noted, however, that when the
occasion demands. the President never
falls to come up with very definite
statements Of his policies and beliefs.
More recently, the President has told
the country his definite views on
taxation and Government financing.
and also on his program for national
defense. And now he has unequivocally
asserted his leadership in foreign affairs
and stated that policy, which is one
OF continued cooperation with the
other free nations-aS contrasted with
those nations dominated by Soviet
Russia. His is the duty to lead, as the
elected representative of the American
people, elected by a huge majority. He
retains great popularity and the conf
dence Of the people, as indicated by
many polls OF public opinion and by
reports received here from many parts
OF the country.
Presidents Own Program.
President Eisenhowers statement on
the national defense program, earlier
submitted by Secretary Of Defense Will
son, already Is having its effect. The
loud shouts for Wilson's resignation
from his cabinet post, because Of the
proposed reductions from the Truman
budget for defense submitted last
January, particularly a $5-billion cut
for the Air Force. are likely to dry up.
now that the President has not only
placed his sign OF approval on the pro-
gram but has said emphatically that
the decisions are his. The very fact
that the President is what he is, a
trained military man, with tremendous
experience in World War II behind
him, adds weight to his declaration
that the program now proposed will
give this country reasonable" pos
ture OF defense. and will in the end
make this country stronger than it
has ever been. is expected to have its
effect on members of Congress. Indeed,
it is just the statement that many
Of his supporters in Congress, Re-
publican and Democratic, have been
awaiting before making up their minds.
The country, it is believed. will back
up the President, when it comes to cuts
in the vast appropriations which have
been made and recommended for the
armed services. Not because the coun-
try does not wish a strong national
defense. but because 1t has been told
that defense can be had for less money.
II waste and bad planning are
eliminated. When public opinion Is
strong, Congress pays attention.