Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-12-03

word about the idea Of blockade.
It is possible that a blockade is
conceivable without war. have
never read of it historically.
A blockade is an act in war
intended to bring your adversary
to your way Of thinking or to his
knees. In fact, in the rules of
war that were studied in my
former life, it was clearly estab-
lished the conditions that must
prevail before you could legally
proclaim a blockade. You
couldn't, even If you were bel
hgerant, merely say, 1--WE block
ade Antarctica," or any other
country. You had to make the
blockade effective, and you were
not justified in stopping any,
ones ship unless you had the
means present at the spot to
make that blockade effective,
indicating that the word block
ade," is, so far as ! know, an act
of war, q part of war. Il.
! have not checked this idea
with the constitutional lawyers.
but I believe IL to be true. So
far as ! am concerned, II ever
we come TO q place that ! feel
that step OF war is necessary.
1T is going to be brought about,
not by any inpulsiye individual
istic act OF my own, but I am
going before the Congress in the
constitutional method set up in
this country, and lay the prob
lem before them, with my recon-
nlendation as to whatever it
may be.
IL Were Soldiers.
In the meantime, I have got
one thought that I must express:
At least II Of these soldiers, by
the Communists own propa-
ganda and testimony made pub
lie, were in uniform. They were
soldiers captured in the Korean
war.
Consequently, they were to be
treated as priSoners-of-War
under the terms Of the armistice.
Moreover, those men were
there in conformity with obliga-
lions incurred under the United
Nations, and were there, in fact.
in accordance with the specific
request and resolution of the
United Nations.
How the United Nations can
possibly disabuse itself of a feel
ing Of responsibility In this mat
ter, and retain its self-respect,
] wouldn't know; and so, I think
that the United States does not
stand alone, merely indicating
that we are yet far from ex-
hausting all Of our resources. I
mention only one of those that
is available to us.
So far as the honor of the
United States is concerned, I
merely hope that I shall not live
long enough to find myself ac-
cused Of being insensible' to the
honor Of the United States and
the safety Of her men and SOL
diers. no matter where we send
them.
Question Asked.
@. Roscoe Drummond, New
York Herald Tribune) ..Mr.
President, some have recently
advocated that the United States
should break diplomatic rela-
tons with the Soviet Union. i
would like to ask IL you think
such an action would be useful
at this time?"
The President: Well, I will
tell you frankly. no. I don't. In
fact. to give you the full reasons
again would be q bit Of repeti-
ton Of the story I have given
you before. and I say such
things, taking any specific &C
ton. I don't believe 1t can be
considered alone; 1t can't be
considered only In its effect In
one area, but In its effect.
throughout the world.
Red Strategy and Tactics.
Let us remember-you will
have to forgive me for adding
this one thought-ever since
about '46, certainly ever since
the beginning Of the Marshall
Plan, one of the great detectives
Of Communist propaganda has
been to break UP, destroy, pre-
vent any type Of growing union
and strength In Western Europe. |
Now, we know, of course, that
Western Europe is a great prize
coward which they have turned |
heir eyes q long time. It Is o
country or region that has
millions Of skilled workers; it Is
! country III great productive |
capacity and, added to the pres
INT Communist capacity would
constitute D threat In the world |