Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
ny RICHARD FRYKLuND

European Correspondent Of The star
LONDON. - The American
President Is in many ways also
the president OF Europe. He can
make the decision that Europe
must go to war; he can send Eu-
ropean economic indexes up or
down by his decisions. And more
important right now, the Ameri-
can Presidents leadership is
strong enough to induce European
governments to act in the inter-
ests Of the Atlantic Alliance even
against the inclination Of their
own voters.
Because they have. in effect. vol
unfairly handed over part Of their
sovereignty TO America. Europeans
believe they have earned the right
to make respectful recommended
tons to the American President.
Their recommendation to Presi-
dent Eisenhower last week was
that he resign.
Whether he resigns or not. 1t is
widely believed in Europe that Mr..
Eisenhower is declining as world
leader. His health. it is assumed.
win never be sufficiently robust
for him TO work at his domestic
and global jobs full time.
Nixon Is Studied
So in Europe-and particularly
here in England - government
leaders are beginning to study the
mind. personality and methods of
Vice President Richard Nixon.
They are looking forward to meet
ing him and hope he will come
to Europe during the mid-Decem-
Der Paris conference-whether or
not Mr.. Eisenhower himself comes.
It would be Mr.. Nixon'S FIRST
European policy conference. his
first contact with many European
government leaders. These men
believe 1t is important now to know
what he thinks and important to
let him know their views.
It must be emphasized that
nothing being said by officials or
by individuals smacks Of interfer-
ence in American domestic affairs.
Even irresponsible newspapers
and Europe has plenty of them
are respectful in Offering their
views to the man they affection
ately call Ike. They are full Of
praise for what Mr.. Eisenhower
has done for Europe. and they
seem reluctant to suggest that he
step down now. The real mood Of
Europe was exemplified by one
Londoner who walked to the house
Of an American living in his
neighborhood and said:
II heard this morning your
President Is III. / just want TO say
how sorry am. We love the man.
too. you know"
Messages Of sympathy went to
the White House from many Eu-
ropean leaders. and those mes
sages certainly spoke for the aver
age man. But sympathy does not
hide the conviction that the Amer
lean President must be the active
and foFceful leader Of the West
ern alliance.
London Comment
The London Daily Mail pointed
out how American executive de-
cisions have shaped European af-
fairs. "One has only to mention
Marshall aid. the Truman doc
trine. the Eisenhower doctrine, the
World Bank. Point -Four. the Ber-
lin airlift. the Korean War" the
Mail said.
Then the paper turned to frank
examination of the Eisenhower
position.
IN the past two years. he has
been constantly compelled TO leave
his desk for rest and relaxation.
He has been called the halftime
President Is even that proper
ton to be diminished?"
The conservative Mail went on
TO say this generation owes much
to Mr.. Eisenhower and that one
way to discharge part Of the debt
would be to persuade him to lay
down the burden of the presi-
dency now.
This was a common theme in
European papers last week. They
pointed out also-as the influen-
tial London Times put 1.-THE
blow (of Mr.. Eisenhower's illness
could hardly have come at a worse
time" Western leaders have sud-
denly come to realize that the bal
ance Of world power is shifting TO
Russia's favor and that quick, Wig
orous action is needed in the West
to right the balance. The American