Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-17
The Political Mill
Tremendous Decisions
Confronting President
But Koreu Hos Precedence
Over All Other Problems
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

President Eisenhower is receiving a
plethora of advice on the United States
Russia situation. The Democratic leader
OF the Senate, Lyndon johnson Of
Texas, told the Senate, and of course
the President, that the essential thing
is to go all out for military prepared
neSs-no matter what the cost-as a
protection against possible Russian ag-
erosion. Almost at the same time, the
chairman of the Republican Policy
Committee, Senator William Knowland
of California, was urging upon the SEN
ate, and of course the President, a pro-
gram which called for placing the
United States Gin a position of reah
strength" using whatever energy, in
telligence, money and effort that are
required" Senator Knowland coupled
with this recommendation a proposal
that resolution be introduced in the
United Nations General Assembly, now
meeting in New York, declaring the
Soviet Union "a supporter of aggression
in Korea and a violator of the United
Nations Charter" He proposed, too, a
complete embargo or blockade of sup
plies into Communist China.
First Things First.
The United States, along with some
OF the other members of the United
Nations, Is engaged in hot war in
Korea against the Communist forces
OF North Korea and the Red Chinese.
with Soviet Russia admitting that it
is supplying these Communist forces
the arms and supplies needed to wage
this war. Notwithstanding the fact it
has been argued again and again that
victory in Korea cannot be won by the
United States and it's allies except in
the Kremlin," if first things are to be
handled first, the Korean war takes
precedence. It has been going on for
two years and eight months. American
commanders in the field have declared
that the war could have been won at
specific times in the past. On the
other hand, it has been urged that to
drive for victory might mean a spread
of the strife until it became q third
world war. Patience has been suggested.
and this policy has resulted in stale
mate.
President Eisenhower is confronted
with a tremendous decision. His first
steps have been an order to the 7th
Fleet no longer to act as a barrier
against attacks by the Nationalist Chi
nese on Forrnosa on the Communist
held mainland Of China, and a more
aggressive attitude on the part of the
United States representative in the
United Nations. He has been in office
only two months and some Democratic
critics are already saying that the new
President is finding out that he can
do no more than his Democratic pred
ecessor in the White House to bring
the Korean war to an end. That, how
ever, remains to be seen. He was elected
by the American people last November
in the hope he would be successful in
winding up this struggle.
KnOwland's Program.
Senator Knowland's program bears
in some respects directly on policies in
Korea. First, he proposes an embargo
China and the Communist fighting in
Korea. Second, he urges the creation
of NATO organization in the Far
East, to oppose Communist aggression
in that area. And third, he suggests
that we find out which of our allies in
the u. N. are prepared to give about
support, and to concentrate on them
in the matter Of aid. 1--WE cannot" he
said, "wait another two and a half
years to get the answer to this ques-
ton" In that he seems entirely correct.
President Eisenhower has said his
principal desire is to bring about q
stable peace. He has even said that he
would go half way to confer with "any
one" If it would help to bring such q
peace. Stains successor in the Krem-
lin, Malenkov, has just announced that
he, too, is DESTROYS of peace with the
United States. The Russians state
ment, however, has met with skepticism
and a retort from some quarters that
deeds speak louder than words.
The situation for President Eisen-
hover is further complicated by de-
mands that steps be taken for greater
Government economy and lower taxes.
Obviously, the proposals for increased
expenditures for national defense, II
adopted, will meet efforts at economy
head on.
National defense and q satisfactory
ending of the Korean war must take
precedence.