Evening star., 1953-05-24
Senator Tells ADA
j. ). Air Power Is
'TragicaI|y Weak
By Allen Drury

By Allen Drury
Senator Humphrey declared
last night that Americas air
power is "tragically weak" COM
pared to that of the Communist
nations.
The Minnesota Democrat de-
livered the principal address at
the 9Th annual convention ban
quet of the Americans for Demo-
cratic action at the Hotel Stat
Ter.
Earlier in the day, the liberal
political group took another
crack at "McCarthyism" and
adopted a foreign policy state
ment. The ADA struck at
methods employed by Senator
Mccarthy, Republican, of Wis
consin, in his investigation of
Communism. 1t expects to adopt
a separate resolution at a con-
Guiding session today urging
President Eisenhower to repu-
date Senator Mccarthy and re-
ject his methods as political
weapons"
Hits Tax Cut Plan.
Senator Humphrey said he has
listened to testimony of military
leaders on Capitol Hill in recent
weeks and Il can say now for the
record that our position in terms
of air power, as contraSted with
that of the Soviet and her Satel-
liteS, is tragically weak"
The desire to fulfill misguided
and misdirected political prom
ises of balancing the budget and
reducing the taxes could very
we'll undermine our whole posi-
ton of security and defense. This
may be the last mistake we are
permitted to make"
The Com nun S S. Senator
Humphrey said. are playing "a
desperate and cruel game of di-
viding us and enticing us into a
position of weakness" He added:
Nov if ever there is a need
for craftsmanship - statesman
ship that may necessitate criti-
cism and complaints in and out
of Congress-"
CriticiZeS Leadership.
The growth of Soviet power,
the Senator said. is accompanied
by disagreementS between Amer
ica and her Allies which would
be vastly simplif1ed and might
never have occurred if executive
leadership in the field of foreign
policy were stronger today"
Il am afraid we have been
giving too much attention to
Investigations of individuals, to
looking for Scapegoats and over
simplifications. and to raging at |
our Allies across the sea-" he
added.
James Wechsler, editor of the !
New York Post, touched briefly
on hills recent appearance before
Senator McCarthy's investigat-
ing committee. He said he found |
Il extremely depressing because |
Of the total grimness and lack
CT humor in the proceeding"
However. he said, he feels the
w7ve of fear sweeping America"
nav he about to reach its peak
and then recede.
Fears Mccarthy Regime.
ADA is the political con-
science of the Nation" he said.
This meeting is just the begin
ming of a new big counter-at-
tack. We're going to win out"
News Commentator Elmer
Davis. acting as toastmaster,
told the convention that unless
the Eisenhower Administration
takes hold and makes a success
of things. we may have a Nc .
Carthy administration four years
from now"
In their official foreign policy !
statement, adopted during four
hours of point-by point debate,
ADA delegates gave Endorsement
to general principles which in
cluded:
/. The overriding threat to
world peace today comes from
the aggressive policies of the !
Soviet Union. and I'VE see no |
evidence of alteration in funda- |
mental Soviet purposes" The |
United States should build up its |
military strength and that of
the free world, but be ready at
all times to negotiate with Rus
sia and her satellites if they
prove themselves sincere.
2. BipartiSanship in foreign
policy must be revived and
strengthened.
3. immigration laws should be
liberalized and arbitrary" re-
strictions on foreign trade re-
moved.
4. Adherence to the United
Nations should be the corner
stone of American foreign pol
ICY"
5. NATO and the mutual Sc
curity program should be sup
ported; aid to Franco Spain
should be opposed.