Evening star., 1954-11-19
The Political Mill
KnowIond Talk Hurts
Administration S Unity
Majority Leader Is Urged
To Geese Shooting From Hip
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

To Cease Shooting From Hip
BY Gould Lincoln
President Eisenhower very properly is
taking steps to unite the country back
of foreign policy. He has told the
Democratic leaders and prospective
chairmen of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee and other important committees
he will not only keep them advised OF
the international situation but that he
will consult with the Democrats before
taking action.
Consultation, however, as he pointed
out, would be impossible before action
in an emergency case. Then he would
act as Commander in Chief Of the Ma
tion'S armed services as well as Presi-
dent. Democratic leaders have reacted
favorably to the Presidents frank state
ment. What they have particularly
urged is that they be consulted in ad-
vance of important decisions and pro-
nouncements by the President and Sec
retary of State.
Handling the international situation,
under the Constitution. remains with
the President. Nor does Gen. Eisen-
hover propose to relinquish in any way
this constitutional authority. Congress
is given the war-making authority, and
the Senate, the ratification of treaties.
But all steps and all policies leading up
to either war or treaties are in the
hands Of the President and his Secre-
tary of State.
Need for Cooperation.
To present united front, the Presi-
dent must have the cooperation of his
own Republican Party members of
Congress. The address delivered in the
Senate last Monday, November Is, by
the Republican leader of that body,
Senator Knowland of California, Gre
ated both resentment and consterna-
tion in some quarters. The Senator
was urging congressional investiga-
tion of "our foreign and defense policy"
Senator Knowland, however, diSclaims
an attack upon the Eisenhower admin
istration and its policies. He is not,
he says, seeking hostile inquiry into
the present policies of the President and
his Secretary of State. What he is
really undertaking Is an alert of the
Congress and the country to the dan
gers of peaceful co-existence" with
the Communist nations while the Rus
sian Soviet continues to drive for world
domination through subversion. He is
afraid We will follow an oStrichlike
course, sticking our heads in the sand
while the Russians, through subversive
activities, continue to nibble away Sec
ton after section of the free world.
What he wants, apparently, is look
by Congress at the long-range possi-
bilities of the international situation.
Co-exiStence is well enough in Sena-
tor Knowlands opinion, provided it is
not the kind of co-existence which the
Thanksgiving turkey has until the ak
falls on his neck.
Urges Clean Break.
The California Senator, however,
finds himself step ahead of the ad-
ministration-as he has on other occa-
sions-in dealing with the Russian
Soviet He has again urged that the
United States break off diplomatic re-
lations with the Kremlin and withdraw
our Ambassador, and at the same time
send the Russian Ambassador home.
This course President Eisenhower and
Secretary of State Dulles opposed. A
similar demand for break with Russia
was made by Senator Knowland during
the recent campaign. The President
turned his back on it at that time, as
he has now.
Senator Knowiand obviously is trying
to bring the administration around to
his way of dealing with the interna-
tional situation. His edge-hammer
tactics, however, have the effect of
creating an impression that the Senate
leader has broken with the President,
an unfortunate impression when the
need is for unity. 1t is unfortunate not
only because of the feeling it creates
in this country, but also because of the
feeling of uncertainty about the pur-
poses and policies of the United States
it creates in the minds of nations with
which this country is united in opposi-
ton to Communist dictatorship. In a
measure, it plays into the hands of the
Kremlin, which gains strength when
division arises among the nations of
the free world
Giving the Republican Senate leader
all credit for sincerity of purpose, he
could help the cause of unity in this
country if he consulted the President
and the Secretary of State before he
shoots from the hip. AS Senator Of
the United States, he is entitled to his
own views of foreign policy, and to
express those views. This right the
President would never deny. But Sena-
tor Knowland. when he speaks. speaks
as Republican leader of the Senate.
He cannot disassociate himself from
the major role he plays.