Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-29
Dispute Over Brink of War
Called Largely Meaningless

its major purposes regarding the
conflict with Communism in South
east Asia. American leadership on
the issue Is regarded as much less
decisive than when Mr.. Dulles went
to Geneva"
Contradictions in Record
There were other points through
out the Life article where claims
and the record were similarly con.
Trajectory. This made Mr.. Dulles
vulnerable in the home front politi-
cal wars and open to the charge
abroad that he was acting more
like a boasting politician than 0
diplomat. In connection With the
claims about Indo China, he also
succeeded in offending both the
British and the French and (by q
curious TWIST in rebuilding the
prestige of British Prime Minister
Anthony Eden Just when it was ct
low point in England.
The impression created by the
undiplomatic language in which
Mr.. Dulles couched his philosophy
OF risk-"brink of war"-coupled
with assertions that his tough
action policy had saved Southeast
Asia by threatening atomic war
against Red China made Prime
Minister Eden a hero to his own
people. The press, which only q
week before had berated him
roundly for lack of bold leadership.
suddenly began reminding the Eng
hsh population that Sir Anthony
was in large part responsible for
blocking Mr.. Dulles strong policies
and guiding the Geneva negotia.
tons to settlement.
Until the Secretarys January 10
press conference there was a seri-
Gus question as to his responsibility
for the theme of the article in those
parts where he was not directly
quoted. He largely ended doubt on
this point, however, when he re-
ported that stenographic trans
script had been made of a CONVEX.
satlon he held with the author when
the information was being gathered.
Something to Regret
In retrospect, Mr.. Dulles NAV re-
greet that he became so deeply In.
volved in the undertaking as to be
unable to detach himself from il
effectively. That he did so, however.
is not surprising to people familiar
with his record.
An intense interest in the things
which are written and said about
him has been one of Mr.. Dulles
chief characteristics in the more
than 10 years that this reporter has
observed his career. Such an at
titude is perhaps natural for a man
who has used publicity to support
his views on foreign policy and for
the advancement of his ambitions
to be Secretary of State.
1t seems likely that there is an
other and deeper drive behind his
latest foray into the field of pub
llcity. Ever since he took Office.
Mr.. Dulles has been seeking some
new and fundamental contribution
which he could make to United
States foreign policy to replace the
concept of "containment."
He had, indeed, bitterly attacked
the containment doctrine, developed
dozen years ago by Diplomat
George KEENAN,, as inadequate and
even immoral. He had asserted that
1t is not sufficient for the United
States merely to hold the power Of
communism in check but that It
is essential for the United States
actively to oppose the evils of COM
munism. Furthermore, he had
argued that containment implied Q
static concept Of defense and that
something more flexible, imposing
less OF a strain on United States re-
sources. was required.
With such ideas, Mr.. Dulles has
talked a lot about liberating the
captive peoples Of Eastern Europe
by peaceful means, and about the
threat Of massive United States
retaliation" If the Communists
should seek to push militarily into
new areas Of the free world.
Difference vs.. Contoinment
In the Life article, Mr.. Dulles
called this idea of defense by the
threat of retaliation his policy Of
deterrence." He left the impression
that he was offering here some new
concept, some bold new design for
United States diplomacy which was
different from containment. But
when this notion was challenged In
terms of his brink of war" state
ment at a news conference, Mr..
Dulles said what he was talking
about was in fact United States
national policy going back to such
documents as the North Atlantic
Treaty-a policy which was pro-
jected. drafted, signed and ratified
under the Democratic administra-
ton Of President Truman.
Thus. the policy of deterrence and
the policy Of containment seem to
come in the end to the same thing:
Holding Soviet power In check.
The current issue, which Is Just
beginning to develop clearly. con-
Germs how this country and its allies
are going to meet the threat Of
communism In Asia and the Middle
East.