Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-26
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continued leadership Of the
United States.
Four years ago this country
brought back from Europe Gen
Gruenther's predecessor as SUI
preme allied commander and
made him President of the
United States. Before the Presi-
dent announced last February he
would run for a second term,
Gen. Gruenther was favored by
some as a substitute for Mr.,
Eisenhower should the President
decide not to seek a second term.
His address last night, some of
the Governors said, testified to
the worth of that idea.
Ends on Note of Hope
4 The general, however, spoke as
an American and a military
leader. not as a politician. The
picture he presented. while stark,
was not without optimism. In
deed, he ended on a strong note
of hope, saying:
IF we can continue to develop
the atmosphere of unity, if we
can continue to make our Euro
pean allies realize that their in
terests and ours are the same,
if we can continue to make it
clear that we are dedicated to
the cause of peace, and that
We are bound together by our
common concepts of freedom,
y am certain that we shall be
able to prevent a third world
war from taking place, and that
we shall more than hold our own
in the cold war which is now in
progress"
/ While Gen. Gruenther ex-
pressed satisfaction in the evil
dences Of relaxation of tension,
because Of the new attitude of
the Soviet, he warned there must
be no relaxation in the military
planning of this country and its
allies. He explained to the Gov
Iecnors the allied plans for de-
Tense against a surprise attack
particularly as they related to
the central front in Europe. They
call for a land element much
smaller than would have been
considered adequate during
World War II.
CenterS on New Arms
This reduction" he said,
has come about because our
concept today revolyes about the
maximum exploitation of our
new weapons - especially our
atomic weapons. We plan to
create a land-air shield which
would be strong enough to force
an enemy to concentrate. When
he concentrates, he will be espe-
lcially vulnerable to attacks by
atomic weapons. The defense
has a big advantage under this
concept.
But it should be stressed that
we must have this minimum
shield. The shield is not adequate
today, and that is the reason we
have recommended a German
contribution. When it is effec-
tive in three or four years, we
consider that we will be able to
give a reasonable guarantee that
we shall be able to defend all
of the NATO territory against
an about attack"
Gen. Gruenther said that when
Gen. Eisenhower arrived in
Europe to organize the defense
there, the morale of the free
world was at a very low ebb.
Since then the defense has be-
come four or five times as strong,
as it was then. Much of the dan
ger of immediate war has re-
lceded.
This success has brought about
Ia change in Soviet policy, but
this very change. he said. has
created a new problem-a danger
that the American. people will
relax.
Warns Against False Security
He warned that this country
must not be lulled into a state of
security against dictatorship
dedicated to a sinister, atheistic
lphilosophy-which is as unhur-
ried as it is relentless" The
mantle of world leadership. Gen.
Gruenther said. sis upon our
shoulders" and to a large degree
the success Of the alliance de-
ponds upon the support given
to it by the American people.
The people, he admitted. have