Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-29
By JOHN M. HIGHTOWER

BY JOHN M. HIGHTOWER
Secretary Of State John Foster
Dulles, his Republican defenders
and his Democratic critics are loud
ly embarked on an election year
foreign policy debate which prom
ises to be angry. bitterly partisan
and largely meaningless.
For the issue as it has been posed
by Mr.. Dulles himself is concerned
| with side of the cold war that is
no longer the most active or urgent
area of contest between the Soviet
Union and the free world.
The problem for the United
States and its allies today is not
SO much how TO stand on the
brink of war; in Korea or Indo
China, though there certainly are
still dangers in the area of Taiwan
(Formosa). The major problem is
how to meet the political lures in
the economic competition Of Pre-
mier Nikolai Bulganin and Commu-
mist Party Boss Nikita Khrushchev,
in the underdeveloped lands of Asia
and the Middle East.
In fact, although Mr.. Dulles case
was badly oyerstated in the context
Of an article that gave extravagant
praise to his personal diplomacy
over the past three years, the brink
of war" policy is not an issue at
all in the sense of national conduct.
It has long since been settled and
clearly stated, although not in Mr.
Dulles casual phrase.
The Reel Issue
The real issue in the argument
is Mr.. Dulles himself, his compe-
tence as Secretary of State and as
| a rowing diplomat applying policies
which are his duty to develop. In
another sense, the issue is one OF
words - specifically whether MIR.
Dulles should have permitted him
self to become SO directly involved
in an article so boastful OF his
achievements.
The question of Mr. Dulles be-
hayior as a diplomat. though a
proper subject OF argument and
criticism, has no profound rela-
tionship with the kind Of policy
which Mr.. Dulles advocates and
seeks to apply. The fact is that
his predecessors in Office. and par
ticularly his immediate forerunner,
Dean Acheson, were subjected to
similar public appraisal without
any notable impact on the major
direction of the United States IN
world affairs. The danger in such
matters, and particularly when
domestic political stakes are as
high as they are in this presiden-
tial election year. is that attention
will be diverted and energies drawn
away from the solution of vital
foreign problems. Yet the debate
may create an impression that a
matter of considerable moment is
being thrashed out with far-reach-
ing international potentials.
The consensus of observers who
have analysed Mr. Dulles role and
that of his associates in the Life
article is that their motivation was
primarily political.
II Wos Sold Before
The political atmosphere of this
election year also is reflected in the
clamor with which the article was
greeted. Much the same inforrna-
ton aroused little reaction in
Washington when published year
earlier in Look Magazine under the
title, I'VE Nearly Went to War
Three Times-But Ike Said No"
Both articles were authorized by
Mr.. Dulles and checked with his
Office. although the Look story did
not quote him directly.
AS far as domestic politics is con-
cerned, the case for Mr.. Dulles was
so badly overstated that the Life
article boomeranged the instant it
was published. Mr.. Dulles defense
on this point at news conference
was that he was not responsible
either for the writing or for the
headline, which proclaimed: How
Dulles Averted War: Three Times
New Disclosures Show He Brought
Us Back From the Brink"
One of the claims made was that
the Secretary had kept Southeast
Asia from collapsing into Commu-
niSm at the time Of the Indo China
settlement which gave half Of Wet
Nam to the Reds. The article adj
vertised this 1854 defeat for the
Western powers as a major save"
for the free world due to Mr.. Dulles
bold willingness to go to the brink
Of war" in order to save peace and
freedom.
This estimate of the Importance
Of Mr.. Dulles diplomacy at the time
Of the Indo China conference is so
different from that which was re-
ported at the time that it is en-
tightening to look back at the rec
ord.
On April 30, 1854. a few days
after the Geneva conference with
Communist China began, Mr.. Dulles
prepared to leave the meeting and
turn over United States representa-
ton to a subordinate.
From information obtained in the
State department at the time. this
reporter wrote: Diplomatic in
formers concede that Mr.. Dulles Ia
coming home TO q Government d.
vided In it, councils and frustrated,
for the Moment at least in aovne NJ