Evening star., 1953-11-05
The Presbyterian Letter

There is no doubt, in The Stars opinion,
that the 2,3OO-word letter which is being sent to
5000 ministers by the General Council of the
Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. was pre-
pared with much care and with the best of
intentions. There is grave doubt however, that
the letter will serve useful purpose. For it is
a document which falls into the error of exceS-
Sive generalization, a document which tries
and fails-to make rhetoric serve the purpose
of specification. A few examples will illustrate
the point
Commenting on our own national scene, the
letter offers such observations as these: Some
congressional inquiries have revealed distinct
tendency to become inquisitions" To which
congressional inquiries does this refer? Treason
and dissent are being confused" Is this really
true? If so, why is not even one instance cited
in the long letter? Despite the lofty idealiSm
of many of our national leaders, truth is being
subtly and silently dethroned by prominent
public figures from the position it has occupied
hitherto in our American tradition" Who are
the prominent public figures? Not one is
named. According to the new philosophy, if
what is true gives aid and comfort to our
enemies, it must be suppressed" What truth
has been suppressed on this ground? Could
not even one example have been offered?
Finally, the letter alludes to "eX-CommuniStS
to whose word congressional committees ap-
parently give unqualified credence." Again it
must be asked: Why the use of the word zap
parently"? Which committees are accused in
this allusion? Why is no example given?
Turning to the field of foreign affairs, the
letter says: "Let us always be ready to meet
around a conference table with the rulers of
Communist countries. There should be- there
fore, no reluctance to employ the conference
f0 f1oo ~
with our countrys enemies. Let us beware of
the cynical attitude which prevails in certain
official circles to regard as fororn hope any
negotiated solution of the major issues which
divide mankind" Who is the target here? In
precisely which Official circles" is the cynical
attitude" found?
One might readily infer, of course, that
the accusations in the paragraphs concerned
with the national scene are directed to such
personalities as Senator Mccarthy Senator
McCarran, Senator Jenner or Representative
Velde. But perhaps some of these might be
excluded, or others included. It might also be
inferred that the reference to the cynical at
titude which prevails in certain official circles"
is a thrust at the President, or, possibly, the
Secretary of State. Both have been reluctant,
and quite properly reluctant to meet around
the conference table-at least in high level"
talks-until there is some indication that our
enemies really want to discuss settlement.
There is possibility, however, that this criti-
cism may have been directed, not to Mr.. Eisen-
hover or Mr.. Dulles, but to some other unidenti-
fed official.
The essential point is that rhetorical in
dictments of anonymous officials serve to con-
fuse rather than to clarity the problems of our
time. The 2.5 million Presbyterians have a
General Council and specifically what the
bases for the accusations may be. Further, if
charges are to be preferred, the individuals
affected have right to know who is being
charged and what the charges are. 1t might
not be amiSs to remind the General Council, to
borrow phrase from its letter. that this too,
is "in our American tradition"