Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-02
War and Politics

The President, in what he described
last night as his final major speech of
the political campaign, rebuked "the
Strident voices of those few who seem
TO be seeking to turn world events to
political profit" This was an obvious
reference to Adlai Stevenson and his de-
nunciation OF administration policies
which he holds responsible for the Middle
East war.
The war, Of course, has become a
political issue, and it could hardly be
otherwise. Consider, for a moment, Mr..
Stevenson's position. With public atten-
ton focused in the last week of the CAM
paign on the fighting in Egypt, with
Britain and France breaking away from
the United States, with the Western ALI
ance tottering-what is he supposed to
talk about? Farm price supports? Big
business? Segregation? Obviously. he
had to scrap whatever speech-making
plans he may have made and concentrate
on the things that are dominating the
headlines and the minds of the people.
So it is not question of keeping the
world crisis out of politics. That cannot
be DONE The question, as far as his own
political fortunes are concerned, is how
Mr. Stevenson deals with this matter,
what he says, what, if any, constructive
proposals he has to offer.
There was not much that was con-
structive in his hurriedly drafted speech
OF last night. He indicted the admins
tration on the ground that it might have
done many things "in the last year" to
avert war in the Middle East. Possibly
30. But If one believes that faulty poll
cies are responsible for the war, then
1t must be recognized that the errors Of
omission and commission go back to
the time Of the founding OF Israel and
are not limited to the last year. Would
the stationing Of United Nations guards
what guards?) in the Middle East have
prevented war? Would war have been
averted If the United States had aided
Israel with arms and territorial guaran-
tees? These seem to be the main things
which Mr.. Stevenson thinks should have
been done. There is little reason, how
ever, to think that they would have pre-
vented the explosion.
With respect to the consequences Of
our policies since the fighting began, Mr..
Stevenson said: 1.-THE United States finds
itself arrayed in the United Nations with
Soviet Russia and the dictator of Egypt
against the democracieS of Britain,
France and Israel" This ignores one
very important fact. What about the
other members of the United Nations?
Sixty-three of them joined the United
States last night, after Mr.. Stevenson
had spoken, in calling for an immediate
cease-f1re, and in demanding that Brit
ain, France and Israel get out of Egypt.
Mr.. Stevenson must have known when
he spoke that the overwhelming ma
tority Of the U. N. would support the
United States, and, in fact, Britain,
France and Israel were able to enlist on
their side only Australia and New Zea-
land. In this respect Mr.. Stevenson was
not dealing responsibly with a critical
matter
Finally, what of the future? If elect
ed, how does Mr.. Stevenson propose to
deal with the situation? He said last
night that the time has come to wipe
the slate clean and begin anew" But
these are empty generalities. He is ask
ing the voters to entrust him with this
great responsibility, and he ought to offer
something specific in the nature of a
program. He indicated at the close OF
his speech that he would undertake to
do this today or tonight. 1t is to be
hoped that he will do so, for this is the
only proper and constructive way to in
tect politics into this highly dangerous
state Of affairs.