Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-04
Eisenhower
Rejects Idea
Capitalization
soys u. S. Might
Strike First Blow
fAttuck Is Certuin
BY GARNETT D. HORNER
star stan Writer

BY GARNETT ID. HORNER
star stan Writer
General mobilization Of free
world forces in the face Of the
Soviet threat over Berlin would
be futile and disastrous Presi-
dent Eisenhower said today.
He used his news conference
also to:
l. Caution against war scare
talk.
2. Make clear that the United
States. while ruling out any
preventive war. might actually
strike the first blow if it had
definite evidence of an immi-
nent attack putting the life of
the Nation at stake.
Defenses Appropriate"
3. Emphasize his conviction
that measures taken by the
Defense Department are conn
pletely appropriate" to meet
the dangers Of the moment.
The President met head ION
suggestions from some congress
sional quarters and others that
the United States and its allies
should start immediate mo-
bilization to demonstrate to
Russia the firmnesS of their
refusal to be driven out of West
Berlin.
He suggested that everybody
stop and think for a moment
about what general mobiliza-
ton in times Of tension would
mean to a democracy.
He pointed out that there
has been tension with Russia
tsince l949. He added that keep
ing up general mobilization
a complete readiness for war at
any moment-for a long time
would turn the United States
or any other democracy into a
garrison state"
Readiness Emphasized
This is not only futile" he
declared, ''but the most disas-
|trous thing we could do"
Mr.. Eisenhower cautiously
gave q new emphasis. however.
Ito Americas readiness to meet
ANY enemy attack.
without saying so directly.
he implied clearly that there
could be circumstances in whirh
the United States would actu-
ally hit the enemy first.
His remarks on this score
came in response to a question
based on a remark made before
the House Space Committee
Monday by Secretary of De-
tense McElroy.
Mr.. McElroy said then that
&c still is United States military
policy that this country would
mot strike the first blow In any
future war. But he added that
whether that always will be
true is another matter"
Cites Self-Preservation
Mr.. Eisenhower was asked to-
day If he could foresee any cir
cumstances in which the United
States would strike the first
blow against a potential sg-
gresSor.
He started his reply with a
no." then said he wanted to
discuss the matter lin this
fashion"
The President went on to
emphasize that the right of
self-preservation lis just as in
stinctive and natural for a
nation as for an individual"
Therefore" he asserted, IF
we are, at any moment, under
a threat Of attack, as would be
evidenced by missiles or planes
coming in our direction, then
we have to act just as rapidly
as is possible, humanity possible.
to defend ourselves"
Beyond that point. he said,
he did not know what was
meant by the Monday exchange
between Secretary McElroy and
House Democratic Leader Nc
Cormack.
Power to Act Pointed Out
Mr.. Eisenhower added that
he is quite sure that Congress
is not thinking of amending
the Constitution to give the
President the right to declare
war--a right reserved to Con-
gress by the Constitution.
But" he added, Il do point
out that when you have got
certain circumstances that put
your life or could put your life
or the Nations life right at
stake. then there is no time,
and whatever would be neces-
sary the President would then
order"
1t was not clear whether his
reference to circumstances"
that put the life of the Nation
at stake modified the previous
general understanding that
American bombers or missiles
See EISENHOWER, Page AS