The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-05-21
THE WORLD
TO-DAY
By JAMES NARROW

s.
Eisenhower seemed clearly To be
talking to the Russians as well as
the American people in his radio
talk explaining the reductions he
wants to make in defense spend
ing.
Eisenhower declared the Amer
lean armed forces he has in mind
would be for defense, not aggres-
sion. He used the word defense
four times in the first three para
graphs d his speech. The word ran
through the whole speech.
He stressed that the only reason
for big armed forces at all is the
threat Of planned Communist
aggression And he said this coun-
try could win war with Russia
If It had to mobilize.
But his emphasis upon the peace
full and defensive nature of this
country's armed fOrces-at the
very moment he spoke Of spending
less money on them could not be
lost on the Russians.
1t was almost as If he was re-
assuring the Russians they had
nothing to fear from the U. s.,
unless they attacked, that the re-
sduced spending was proof of it,
and therefore they could start
cutting down on heir armed forces.
Secretary Of Defense Wilson in
the past week, as il setting the
stage for the Eisenhower talk Tues.
night, has bit On tna same theme:
the purely defensive nature Of the
armed forces planned by the Eisen-
hover administration.
Last week Wilson told news
conference he had in mind the kind
81 armed force that could hold of
an attack until this country had
time 10 mobilize.
Tuesday he testified before .
Senate appropriations subcomnit,
tee which is trying 10 find out why
Wilson wants to cut billions of
the money for the Air Force. He
said:
I'VE are not building up q big
military machine 10 attack some.
body But 4 couple Of Democrats
who are not enthusiastic about
wilson's idea Of more security FOL
less money Senator's Hill Of Ala
hama and Maybank Of South Caro-.
lima pressed him hard.
they wanted to know whether the
Air Force lie had ID mind could
attack, II need be. As wen as de
Tend. Wilson said this country Il
building .some tine new bombers'
and he thinks this country ha!
more long range bomhers thar
Russia.
But Wilson conceded his ideas 81
the kind 0f Air Force the u. S
needs weren't quiEe the same al
those 81 the chief 81 the Air Force
Gen. H0yt S. Vandenberg He saii
Vandenberg didn't specifically
approve.
Since Eisenhower frankly SAX
his defense program i i "calcnlat
ca risk that Is, he hopes It vii
be able 10 protect this eOuntr,
adequately If war comes only tim.
win show his wisdom Or lack Of il
During the presidential cam
paign Eisenhower may have hal
high hopes Of cutting government
expenses % much the budget couls
| BE balanced and taxes reduced.
1 He kissed those hopes goOdb.
Ipublicly Tuesday. AcknowIedg ini
The can't cut expenses enough d
/ wipe out the deficit this year, ii
| said he wants 10 tax cuts either
Il since reduced taxes would mean Il
i even bigger deficit.
/ Right there be knew he may nov
run into real trouble within Hi
own party. A number Of Repuh
il licans are bent Cd trimming take
/ III 1858.
i untiI nov Eisenhower has En-
| joyed "a agtunfslingIy Tranquil
presidency. Il was Is II on an side
there was taeit agreement 10 d
| gentle with him until he could Be
| Sis feet on the ground and I'M
4 0uk where he stood.
But nov that he has stated posi-
lively his position, bis Leadership
ability Is president wiz begin i
L res ifs test. for he win have 4
II defend his program and fight 10
| Il 81 see i shot 10 PIECES
s. ii this point where Ne ma,
u II last have . step into The rim
and slug 4 cut even with member
a lis own party and can only hop
tine VIII prove him, riEht Ii Nha
he proposes hls honeymoon
III