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All right» of publication of «pecial dispatches herein also are reserved. A—t SATURDAY, April », 1947 More Lives Can Be Saved Tempering the satisfaction which Washington naturally derives from winning the National Traffic Safety Contest award for 1946 is the grim fact that so many more lives might have been saved had some of the traffic victims observed elementary traffic precautions. Analysis of the trend of traffic accidents here and elsewhere shows, for exenple, that If çome way could be found to pre vent pedestrians from crossing busy streets In the middle of the block, a substantial drop in fatalities would iollow Immediately. Even as announcement of the award by the National Safety Coun cil was being made, Washington's record of traffic fatalities for 1947 was being further Increased by the death of a woman who was struck by a streetcar while crossing U street in the middle of the block. That brought the death toll so far this year to twenty-two persons—seven more than had been killed at this time last year. Significantly, fifteen of this year's traffic victims, or ap proximately 70 per cent, were pe destrians. Police found that in eleven of these cases it was the pedestrian, not the motorist, who was at fault. In two other cases the blame was divided between pedes trian and motorist. The driver was held to be primarily responsible in the remaining two cases. Washington is not alone in noting a preponderance of pedestrians among traffic casualties. The Eno s Foundation's recently published Traffic Education Guidebook con tains a national study showing that pedestrian fatalities lead all other types of traffic deaths, the ratio being two to one in large cities; that most of the pedestrians killed were elderly or extremely young, and that two-thirds were "either violat ing traffic laws or committing un safe acte, such as crossing between Intersections, crossing against lights or walking in the roadway." These findings make it plain that there is real hope for a further re duction in traffic fatalities in the field of pedestrian education and control. Intensified enforcement of pedestrian regulations will help to save more lives. But more than en forcement is needed. A greater awareness by pedestrians of the dangers of violating not only estab lished regulations but the ordinary principles of safety is essential if the annual traffic toll is to be materially reduced. Hundreds of years ago Shake speare said: "Who steals my purse steals trash." Not a bad prediction, from a chap who never paid an Income tax. Booker T. Washington All Americans, not merely those citizens of African descent, have reason to be grateful for the services of Booker T. Washington. He was born In slavery and knew from bitter experience what poverty means in terms of ignorance and suffering. At seventeen he was admitted to Hampton. There he learned the pattern of education which he adapted to Tuskegee during the thirty-four years of his leadership there. But much of his philosophy was distinctly his own. He possessed an original genius which still is felt more than three decades after his death. The essential doctrine with which his name is most durably and constructively associated is that of advancement by merit. Dr. Washington asked nothing for himself and nothing for his people undeserved. He believed in the dignity of labor and was particularly concerned with the development of skills and techniques which should be of practical value in the ordinary businesses of life. Caring deeply for the beauty and the bounty of nature, he taught the need to keep close to the soil not simply as an expedient but also in the sense of a tie with Providence itself. His profound affection for humanity at large was demonstrated In ^iis emphasis on co-operation, mutuality and good will. Thus he won the praise of Henry Watterson for his beneficent influence and of Theodore Roosevelt for his practice of justice and love of mercy. Many Washingtonians knew Dr. Washington personally and admired him for his courageous spirit, his gentle heart and his equitable mind. He studied here at Wayland Semi nary in 1878 and 1879 and frequently visited here for weeks at a time. Thus he came to be regarded as a near neighbor, and when finally his career closed In the autumn of 1915 he nowhere else was more sincerely mourned. Overwork killed him at fifty-nine. Tuskegee is his memorial —a Bring monument; but the homage to be paid to him today on the ninety-first anniversary of his birth Is evidence of something even greater—a lasting place in the folk tradition of America. His example is a common heritage for the whole Nation. Another Reprieve If Attorney General Clark is cor rect in his conclusion that the Fed eral Communications Act gives the President authority to take posses sion of the telephone system, and if Mr. Truman is resolved to use that power should need arise, there would seem to be littl? danger of a serious telephone strike next week. If the strike should be called as scheduled, the Government, under the authority of the Supreme Court's decision in the coal case, could se cure an injunction forbidding the walkout. But this probably would not be necessary, for John J. Moran, chairman of the National Federa tion of Telephone Workers, has stated that if the Government finds a legal basis for seizure of the tele phone industry, and acts upon it, the NFTW members will remain at their jobs. The effect of tnis, again assuming that Mr. Clark is right in his inter pretation of the law, is to give the country something in the nature of another reprieve from a paralyzing strike. But it is a reprieve which would be limited apparently to in dustries within the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Com mission, and it can be effective only for the duration of a state of war and six months thereafter. This by no means goes to the heart of the problem inherent in the threatened telephone strike, or in a strike affecting any vital pub lic utility. That problem may be stated in this fashion: The Bell telephone system Is a monopoly, but it is a monopoly whose rates and services are closely regulated by the Government, acting in the pub lic interest. The union (or unions) representing the employes of the system is also a monopoly, but it is not subject to regulation in the sense that the company Is. Barring some accident of law such as. the discovery of an emergency wartime provision which can be made to ap ply to a strike, there is nothing to prevent this union or any union from resorting to a strike to enforce its demands, and this without re gard to the adverse effect on the public interest. This, then. Is the hard core of the problem of strikes in public utilities—how to protect the public from excesses by the unregulated party to a monopoly. While a state of war lasts we may be able to muddle through by resorting to one dubious device after another. But eventually Congress will be forced to act upon the recognition that it cannot continue, in the public in terest, to regulate utility manage ment and permit utility labor to do as it pleases. The worst thing about abstract art is that it is not abstract to the vanishing point. * Our Pacific Trusteeship The approval by the Security Council of the United Nations of the terms on which our Government has proposed its U. N. trusteeship to the former Japanese man dated islands in the Pacific is inter esting, less for the outcome than from the manner in which it was consummated. From the very first, we had made it plain that we considered effective control over these islands vital to our national security. Won from Japan as they had been in the late war by a great expenditure of blood and treasure, we are today in full control of the islands and do not intend to relinquish them or share them with any other power. Under these circumstances, the sole Ques tion was whether our control was to be formally ratified by the U. N. or whether we were to maintain our control unilaterally. To this decision of our Govern ment there was no basic opposition. The debate before the Security Council therefore revolved over in cidentals. And it was here that somewhat surprising complications developed. Attempts were made to restrict the terms of our trusteeship for technical or economic consider ations which did not conform to the facts of the case. These attempts were vigorously rebutted by our rep resentative, Warren N. Austin, who made it abundantly clear that they would not be tolerated. Mr. Austin contended that these small islands, with a negligible population and virtually no eco nomic resources, had only a stra tegic value which was indivisible. Hi therefore announced that, if the American proposal were not ac cepted, our Government would with draw its trusteeship proposal rather than exercise its right of veto to a potential negative vote by the Coun cil itself. This was in effect a "shadow veto," since the result would have been to leave the United States in possession of the islands, with no intention of modifying the situation. Admittedly, this was "power politics," but it ie a game at which other powers have consistent ly played, and this country did not intend to be outmaneuvered for technical considerations. Therefore, we have acquired U. N. sanction for the "strategic" trusteeship which we have demanded. It should be noted that other islands, such as Iwo Jima and Oki nawa, likewise conquered by our arms but originally acquired by Ja pan in full sovereignty rather than under a mandate from the former League of Nations, are not now in question. Their disposition must be decided by the peace treaty which will regulate the permanent status of Japan and its outlying posses sions. Tet there, likewise, military control will be an important factor in the eventual decision. Signal for Confirmation After some ten weeks of exhaus tive hearings and sharp debate much of it mere sound and fury— the opposition has failed, in a deci sive test vote, to recommit' the President's appointment of David E. Lilienthal as chairman of our Atomic Energy Commission. Had the recommital move succeeded, the only sensible course for Mr. Lilien thal would have been to withdraw, from the fray. Fortunately, how ever, he has passed the test, and it is up to the Senate now to do the common-sense thing by confirming him without further delay, together with the President's five other ap pointees to the AEC. The weakness of the case against Mr. Lilienthal became apparent weeks ago. The opposition, led by the feuding Senator McKellar, had more than a sufficient opportunity —and made the most-of it—to show how he failed to qualify, but it could not convince the Senate Committee on Atomic Energy. By a vote of 8 to 1, that committee recommended that all alx appointments be con firmed. Chairman Hickenlooper went out of his way at the time to describe the former head of the TVA as able, vigorous, honest, and a man of great administrative talent, who could not rightly be accused of Communism or Com munist sympathies. The same view was expressed by Senator Vanden berg in his eloquent speech Just before action on the recommital motion. The 52-to-38 vote against this measure has in effect closed the argument, and only diehards would seek to block confirmation now. . 1 During all the time that has elapsed since the President first made his nominations, our'Atomic Energy Commission has been largely stalled. The chairman-designate and the other appointees, with their status in doubt, have been unable to make vital decisions. Further de lay cannot be justified. The test vote in the Senate should now be fol lowed—as expected—by final con firmation within a few days. On the strength of the record, we can be confident that Mr. Lilienthal and his colleagues are well equipped to handle their tremendous responsi bilities. If they are not, that fact will become known soon enough, and the Senate will be able to act accordingly when their interim terms expire in the summer of next year. This and That By Charles E. Tracewell. "HYATTSVILLE, Md. "Dear Sir: "I have just read your column and note that you have had no reports from nearby Maryland on the red-breasted nuthatches. "We are very much Interested In birds, and saw the red-breasted nut hatches feeding at the suet last year for the first time; they also appeared a number of times this winter. "You may also be interested to hear that at the Mme of the heavy snow fall some weeks ago we had three quail come to the yard for bird seed, which we put out in a cleared-off space. They came regularly for several weeks, and were very interesting to watch. "Yours truly, P. B. W." * * * * "BETHESDA, Md. "Dear Sir: "Perhaps your Virginia readers are better correspondents. Certainly we have the red-breasted nuthatch here in Montgomery County. Our feeder is visited constantly during the winter by at least two Individuals. They are still with us. "A high point in bird watching at our pl&ce this year was having a flock of 12 quail come to eat under the feeder for several days after the recent heavy snow had been on the ground a week. "Cedar waxwings had never descended from the treetops here (where we had Identified them through binoculars) until about 10 days ago, when a flock of 36 came to the bird bath. "Since then we have seen them dally. Sunday' they crowded into the bath in such numbers it was quite hidden, with others fluttering in the air wait ing their turn to alight. "The first robin in our yard this spring was seen March 11. "We had a Carolina wren early in the winter but have not seen him for two months. A month ago a pair of Eastern tree sparrows spent a few days in the yard. We have large flocks of purple finches and about a dozen white throated sparrows. "When you speak of killing rats with red squill, I always wish I could interrupt and suggest a 20-cent trap instead. The latter worked much bet ter for us and with less trouble and expense. # inanxs to your description 01 proper method, I bare caught (and killed) six moles and expect to banish them entirely this spring. In early January, when It was so warm and summery, I caught one. "Very truly yours, R. S. B. "P. S —We have had bluebirds nest ing here for two years. About six of them had been feeding on holly berries this winter, but have been absent a month. "Where do you think they have gone? It seems mysterious, this temporarily absenting themselves. They also have been missing on the Kenwood course for the jame period." * * * * The trouble with rat traps is that they sometimes catch birds. Any one who has put out a trap for a rat, only to find In it the next morning a beautiful cardinal, will realise that red squill has some good point·. Red squill is not a poison. In a sense, but a material which will make It impossible for rats to live. Let us put it that way. Other small animals are able to throw it up. Rodents lack the vomit reflex, hence must keep the material down, to their undoing. Bluebirds cannot be denied the right to migrate, when they choose. Our correspondent's birds probably have gone North for a time. They may or may not be back. These lovely birds do not find modern conditions exactly to their liking. (Who can blame them?) They look around for a nesting site, do not find it, or do not find one exactly to their liking, they move on, not being Immune to the universal migration Idea firmly planted In so many of the birds. If they com· back, finally, so much gain f A Letters to The Star ' National Gallery of Art Held Fair to American Painters To the Editor of The Star: I would like to reply to some of the criticisms of the National Gallery of Art, made by a Mr. A. Benjamin in a recently printed letter to The Star. The first and most obvious answer to criticism of a collection of paintings in which there is a preponderance of "foreign" over "American" art, is the reminder that American painting barely covers 200 years, while the history of western art goes back to the 13th cen tury. One* of the functions of a great museum is to provide material for the student. Just as the American student of literature reads Shakespeare as well as Whitman, or the American lawyer studies common law that goes back hundreds of years, so the American student of art is interested in the en tire history of art. It is Impossible to isolate American culture from the west ern civilization of which it is a part. It is not a question of "American" or "foreign," but rather one of "old" and "new"; in order to appreciate the new, it is necessary to understand the old. And in this respect, the National Gal lery already has a marvelous collection. No longer need the American be satis fied with black-and-white or poorly colored reproductions; or travel abroad to see examples of the masters' work p the great schools and famous names are represented here. It is not the "singular" lack of Americah painting, but the comprehensiveness of a collec tion so new, that is amazing! The point is not to deprecate what we have, but to hope that the National collection will continue to grow, a monument to the taste and public spirit of American collectors and a con stant source of education and pleasure to student, connoisseur and amateur alike! In the meantime, it aeems to me that the National Gallery makes the most of the American work It has. Mr. Ben jamin finds American painting: treated with "cool condescension" by the gal lery staff. I found four of the last eight, in the series of weekly lectures presented by the gallery,- devoted to American art. I also find magazine articles, as well as books on my shelves, dealing with American art, written by members of the National Gallery staff. As for the French moderns (the term is Mr. Benjamin's) with which he says "the place reeks," is he referring to the particular paintings in the gallery, or to the fact that they are there at all? The pictures in question represent an important movement in French 19th century painting, and are always of interest to the student, whether or not one admires the work. It is impossible to Ignore men like Manet, Monet, Gau guin or Cezanne, their position in French art or their influence on all subsequent work, including much of the "American art" Mr. Benjamin so sorely misses from the gallery walls. And as for the large number of guards, any one who remembers that the "Mona Lisa" was slashed to ribbons as it hung on the wall of the Louvre will agree that some of the unique and priceless canvases in the National Gallery are worth protecting. J. C. G. Co-operative Monopoly? To the Editor of The Star: May I, as one who has been actively Interested In national affairs lor more than 70 years, make a suggestion for what I believe to be a greatly needed reform at Washington? It may not be generally realized that by the special privilege of exemption from taxation business enterprises known as co-oper atives have come to be a most unde sirable monopoly. By the exemption granted them the Federal Government is deprived of millions of dollars in taxes while these co-operatives are in grossly unfair competition with legiti mate business enterprises which have to pay heavy taxes for the privilege of doing business. Co-operatives have been given this special privilege on the plea that they are nonprofit institutions, the subter fuge being that their profits are pro vided in additional stock instead of in cash. Another special privilege given them by the Government has been easy loans at low Interest rates by which co-operatives have expanded rapidly. However, perhaps the strongest indict ment of co-operatives is that their pro motion tends directly toward the de struction of private enterprise and the promotion of collectivism. HENRY WARE ALLEN. Wichita, Kan. Vulture· in Our Midst To th· editor of Til· Star: Once when I was young, I had a vision. It produced a profound misery and foreboding in my mind that has lasted keenly through the years. Only now does its meaning approach an answer In my mind. I thought I saw a lordly eagle perched composedly upon the branch of a tree. Its eyes were open and apparently mindful of the surround ings. Soon a great black bird, some what smaller than the eagle, softly alighted on the same branch close to the larger bird. Quietly the monster protruded a long red tongue, slim and pointed like that of an adder, the tip of this tongue found lodgment within the ear of the eagle, but so softly and dexterously that the mighty bird seemed unaware of Its presence. From time to time the tongue retracted bringing with It small increments of brain matter. As this action proceeded the eyes of the eagle slowly lost their luster; there followed a blank stare, but the noble bird In no wây moved during the ordeal. Now, as I become painfully and fear fully aware of the inertia of our people —the slow attrition of the wisdom and will of my country, through the mach inations of a foreign power—I wonder if my vision was not, like those beheld by the seers of old, a profound warning of momentous change. Could it mean that the United States will be menaced nigh unto death by the vultures in our midst ere awareness of our plight causes us to find means to avert such frightful danger? ~* How long must we tolerate the work of traitor· before effective measure· are taken to cleanse this Nation of the deadly virus that threatens to destroy its economic life and the treasured free dom that has been our priceless heri tage? OEORGE H. MORSE. Fear «s Cause of Delinquency To the editor of The sur: Each of us should be alarmed, not so much about Juvenile delinquency but about the causes thereof. The so-csllçd "delinquents" of this generation, we must remember, are the children of thousands of parents who experienced World War X, survived seri ous depressions and wwnamlo failures. A They inherited their parents' mental afflictions. Insecurity and anxiety, caused by economic worries and fear, are the forerunners of many tragedies, with harmful effect on the human nerv ous system. When this Is strained, relaxation must come in some form. Who can say with assurance that these fears, arising from economic Insecurity, may not be the causes of our present ! alarming increase at heart diseases? ι Children vb· cannot understand the development of the atom bomb never theless fear that they will be blown to bits some day. This also applies to adults. When children of World War H parents grow up, unless m assure them of more security, and not cause them to feel that each generation must fight and die in van in order that others might survive, they mil not be any different than the "delinquent·" of today, perhaps much won·. R. KAUCHXXL Greek-Turkish Aid Policy . Its Racations Are Further Explored in A "r "*s to Senators1 Questions (A condensed version of questions by Senators and State Department answers on aid to Greece and Turkey is printed below.) Question: Is it our purpose to support the present Greek government; that is, the monarchy? Is it our proposal to support the present Turkish govern ment? Answer: It is our primary purpose to assist the Greek people, so that they may retain the opportunity to choose the form and composition of their government in accordance with the wish of the majority. This also applies to Turkey. We do not conceive it to be our function to influence the judgment of these two peoples with regard to their governments. Question: Is it the view of our Gov ernment that the governments of either or both countries are democratic? Answer: It is the view of the State Department that both the Greek and rurklsh governmepts are essentially democratic and thatt both are progress ing along the road of democracy. The essential democracy of these two gov ernments is, it is believed, demonstrated by the fact that in both countries sub· stantial opposition parties are not only legal but are carrying on an energetic campaign of criticism of the govern ments in power without hindrance by the governmental authorities. Tne umtea states Government does not propose to dictate to either Greece or Turkey the form or composition of its government. The Communist Party is legal in Greece and carries on its activities freely within the limits of the law which regulates all political groups. The existence of a Communist Party is not permitted in Turkey and it is be lieved that there are very few Com munists in that country. Activity of Greek Communists. Question: What evidence has been submitted which would lead one to believe Russia is attempting to take over the governments or to establish govern ments which would be dominated by Russia In éither or both countries? Is there positive evidence of Russian in filtration? Answer: An examination of the Presi dent's message and of the proposed legislation will indicate that the Presi dent has not charged that any specific country is attempting to take'over the Greek or Turkish governments or to establish governments dominated by it in either or both countries. With regard to Greece, it would ap pear to the department, from the in formation available to it, that the prin cipal threat to Greek independence comes from armed groups In Greece led by Communists. The purpose of these armed groups appears to be to prevent the reconstruction of an independent, democratic Greece. There is no doubt that these armed groups are receiving encouragement from abroad. So far as is known, there are at pres ent no organized armed groups in Tur key intent upon undermining the inde pendence of that country. The pres sures of various kinds which have been exerted upon Turkey from without dur ing the last 18 months are so well known that it would appear to be unnecessary for them to be set forth in detail by the State Department at this time. It is hoped that aid to Turkey would prevent the development of conditions within that country which would render it diffi cult for it to withstand pressures from without which might threaten its inde pendence. No precise figures are available re garding the number of members which the Communist Party has at this time in Greece and Turkey. It is believed, how ever, that that party has relatively few members In each country. The threat to Greek independence comes not so much from the number of Communists In Greece as from the groups which the Communists have been successful in dominating as a result of the economic misery of the Greek people. The Com munist Party In Turkey is outlawed and, therefore, such Communist activities as are carried on in that country must be of a secret character. Possibility of War Doubted. Question: Do our military authorities feel that Soviet Russia's military strength is such that they are likely to take action against the Untied States either in connection with our entrance into Greece or as the result of some other dispute arising during the next two years? Answer: In the opinion of the State Department, there is no reason to believe that any country would find provocation for action against the United States as a consequence of our proposed course in the Greek crisis. Question: After our missions have moved into Greece and rehabilitated the Greek Army and spent millions on re construction, could Greece, with our as sistance, resist Invasion? Answer: The purpose of ouc proposed assistance to Greece is not to put Greece in a position to resist overt aggression by foreign countries. Our objective is to so streAgthen the internal economic structure and the Internal security of Greece that she will be relieved of the danger of the overthrow of constitu tional government by an armed mi nority. \ Question: What is the size of the Greek Army? the Turkish Army? Answer: According to such Informa tion as is available, the Greek Army numbers approximately 100,000 men, and the Turkish Army between 500,000 and 600,000. Assistance te China. Question: Does the administration contemplate action to "ass 1st" the Cen tral government in China agaiiut its armed Communist minority similar to that now being proposed in Greece? Answer: As was explained by Secre tary Acheson in testifying before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, March 20 and 21, the situation in Greece is quite different from that in China. This Government, therefore, does not propose to follow Identical courses of action in the two countries. Question : Is there more need for pro tecting the present form of government in Greece than in any of the other Balkan countries. Answer: Greece is the only Balkan country which has thus far been success ful in maintaining a democratic form of government, and the State Depart ment is of the opinion that it is In the Interests of the United States that Greece should be permitted to exist as an Independent, democratic, econom ically sound state. Question: If British troops are with drawn from Greece and American troops do not replace them, what plan will be followed to maintain law and order? Answer: It is our expectation that with the assistance to be provided by the United States in the form of supplies and equipment, together with the improved conditions which should result from the provision of American financial and technical assistance, the Greek Army, gendarmerie and police forces will be adequate to maintain law and order in Greece. Question: Does our entry into Greece and /Turkey under the circumstances proposed by President Truman entail the abandonment of the Monroe Doc trine with its corollary that if European countries keep out of North and South America, we likewise shall keep out of Europe? Answer: president Truman^ proposal does not entail in any respect an abandonment of the Monroe Doctrine. We do not understand the alleged corollary contained in the above ques tion to the effect that if European coun tries "keep out" of North and South America, we shall "keep out" of Europe. Twice in the last 35 years the United States has gone to the assistance of democratic countries in Europe by send· ing 3,000,000 men at one time and 4,000, 000 men at the other time. After World War I, the United States contributed approximately |2,000,00β,000 to the relief and suffering in Europe. Since World War II, we have contributed about $4, 000,000,000 for the same purpose. Presi dent Truman's present proposal is to respond to the requests of two nations which have asked for assistance from the United States. Question: Would a gift of money to Great Britain for Greece achieve the same purposes? Have any attempts been made financially or otherwise to %ssist Britain to remain in Greece? Answer: No consideration has been given to the possibility of making a gift of money to Great Britain to be spent for Greece. It is not believed that such a course would be an appropriate or desirable way to respond to the request. Question: Did President Truman know of this impending emergency when he advised Congress on March 3, to allow selective service to lapse? Answer: The President did know of the impending emergency at that time. No Bargain With British. · Question: Will the British govern ment relinquish any of her claims to oil interests or controlled trade in the Middle East in return for our substitu tion for her role in Greece? Answer: The proposed aid to Greece is not for the benefit of the government of Great Britain. There is, therefore, no reason for the Government of the United States to bargain with the gov ernment of Great Britain or any other third government, before extending aid to Greece of the kind proposed. Question: What steps are being taken to convince the Soviet Union that our policy is not aimed at construction of an encirclement of Russia? Answer: There is nothing secret about our proposed policy. It has been fully 'set forth in the President's message and published throughout the world. We do not consider that there is any ground for construing our policy as being aimed at the encirclement of any country and we believe that the speedy carrying out of the proposed action along the lines set forth by the President will be the best evidence that our objectives are solely those stated by the President. Question: What guaranties are being sought from the Greek government con cerning political freedoms in Greece? Answer: This Government is not pro posing any special guaranties from the Greek government concerning political freedoms in Greece. The existing con stitution and laws of Greece contain provisions guaranteeing those freedoms. Greece's problems do not arise from lack of constitutional guaranties but from disturbed conditions which impede the operation of constitutional government. Question: What are the British com mitments in Greece? Which of these do they give up on March 31? If a British military force remains in Greece, what, if any, obligations have we to support it? Answer: So far as this Government knows, the British government has no binding commitments in Greece other than an obligation to furnish certain financial assistance up to March 31,1947. The United States would have no obli gation to support any British force which might remain in Greece. No Promise to Send Troop·. Question: Has there been any under standing, oral or otherwise, with the Greeks that we would furnish other than advisory aid In military matters if it became necessary, that is, that we would actually use troops if circum stances seemed to require it? Answer: There has been no under standing of any nature to this effect. Question: What is contemplated as to policy in the Middle East in relation to petroleum reserves? In Iran? In Iraq? In Saudi Arabia? Answer: It should be clearly under stood that our program for assisting Greece and Turkey is not connected with any oil concessions which American companies may have in the Near or Middle East. The objectives of the foreign policy of the United States, so far as oil is con cerned, are of a universal nature. These objectives, as stated in the Anglo American petroleum agreement now pending before the Sepate, may be briefly summarized as follows: That the interests of producing countries be safeguarded with a view to their, eco nomic advancement; that valid conces sion contracts and lawfully acquired rights be respected; that the acquisition of exploration and development rights be governed by the principle of equal opportunity; and that supplies of pe troleum be accessible to the nationals of all countries on a competitive and nondiscriminatory basis. Question: Why is the proposed pro gram of assistance to Greece and Turkey in the self-interest of the United States? Answer: Should Greece or Turkey, as a result of our failure to act, find itself in a position where its Independence is compromised or should its government be overthrown against the w^l of the majority of the people, the resulting situation would have profoundly dis turbing psychological and political effects on all countries in that region and many nations outside the region. Confusion and disorder might well spread throughout the entire Middle East. Thus, stability would be disrupted in vital areas of the world; the foundations or the United Nations would be shaken; and the faith of nations In the ability of democracy to maintain itself in the world would be seriously weakened. It is obviously in the self-interest of the United States to prevent the de velopment of such a situation. The Political Mill Truman's 'Doctrine' Wins First Victory Committee Support of Greek Aid Herald» Approval by Congress By Gould Lincoln Unanimous action by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee gave the "Truman Doctrine" (designed to pre· vent a further territorial expansion of communism Into the Near Bast, the Middle East and western Europe) its first victory in the halls of Congress. The committee, by its rote of 13 to 0, sent to the Senate the administration bill, in amended form, authorizing a 1400,000,000 loan to Greece and Turkey. This is, in reality, a strategic and mili tary move, intended to safeguard this country and the world from another war. In order to overcome the charge that the United States had by-passed the United Nations In proposing to make this loan, the committee has written into the bill a modified version of an amendment offered by Chairman Van denberg. ' The amendment gives the United Nations the right to veto the Truman program in Greece and Turkey if and when the U. N. should be ready to go forward with a program of its own in those countries, or if and when the program is ηό longer deemed necessary. The United States is pledged to stand aside and oppose no veto, as it might do as a permanent member of the Security Council of the U. N. The demand for cessation of the American program in Greece and Turkey could be made either by the Security Council or by the Gen eral Assembly of the United Nations. Soviet Veto an Obstacle. A foremost reason why President Tru man did not, in the first instance, pro pose that a program for the aid of Greece and Turkey—to strengthen them both economically and militarily—be undertaken by the United Nations, lies in the fact that Soviet Russia stood ready to veto the proposal. Russia, too, is a permanent member of the Security Council, the executive agency of the United Nations. Since it is from the communist expansion movement, backed by Russian might, that Greece and Tur key stand in danger, it was necessary to move for their aid in a way which could not be blocked by a mere Russian veto in the Council. The United States has played a fore most part in the creation of the United Nations. America has made clear again and again that It looks to the United Nations as the agency for security and world peace, and that the United States will do its utmost to build up this agency. However, the unwillingness of Soviet Russia to act co-operatively within the U. N. has been, up to this date, a great stumbling block. Russia has continued her expansionist moves almost un checked. The United Nations Is com mitted to the principle of freedom of a people to decide upon Its own form of government. This principle has been side-tracked through the activities of small, heavily armed minorities. Greece, apparently, was next on the list to go the way of communist expansion. V. V. Action Is Unlikely. While the Foreign Relations Commit tee was willing, in reporting out the loan bill, to make the program subject to a United Nations veto, It is obvious that this Government does not expect euch a veto. It is not expected either in the Security Council or in the Gen eral Assembly- For only Soviet Russia and her satellite countries, where com· munlstic governments are already in stalled, could be counted opposed to the American program. It has been sug gested that perhaps France, which has a strong communist party, might Join with Russia. But that seems improbable. The American program, as has been said, provides for Greece both economic and military aid. For Turkey It is frankly admitted the loan is to enable that country to maintain and improve its military forces. Turkey at present is in fairly sound economic situation, but if it had to put the $100,000,000 which this country proposes to lend her Into further military expenditures, the eco nomic rug might be pulled from under her feet. Kvery effort in committee to limit the loans merely to relief and rehabilitation, as proposed by Senators Pepper of Flor ida and Taylor of Idaho, both Demo crats, were defeated. In other words, the "Truman Doctrine" was sustained by the committee to a man. The admin istration has Insisted that the program will lead, not to war as charged Ay its opponents, but to peace. This may very well be true. Suppose, for example, that no aid is provided Greece, and Grcece comes under the domination of Soviet Russia. The next step would be into Turkey, and then the makings of an other world conflagration would be at , hand. The American people have seen, not so long ago, the step by step expan sion of another totalitarian power—now, fortunately, no longer a power. Con gress will be in line with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when the showdown comes on this Truman program. Going Pretty Far from tta· N«w Orleuu TlmM-Plctrun·. A Scotsman found an error of 350,000, 000 years in the estimated age of the earth. Hie research started with a tuppence shortage in his bank account * Difficulty Anticipated From the Cincinnati Inquirer. In an idle moment we were wandering what kind of stream well be crossing in 1948 not to swap horses in the middle of. Booker T. Washington Nameless, tie chose an old and stately name To bear with blended humbleness and pride m Tili his own lel/less living won acclaim. Unsought, undreamed-of honors mul tiplied. To know him is to wonder and admire At greatness worn with such simplicity, At purpose burning with such eager fire For the uplifting of humanity. Wisdom, was in his heart. C* *r vision taught That toil is noble, that rank matters less Than hardships overcome and ignorance fought— The truer measure of a man's success. To search his spirit is to find that prayer And childlike trust in guidance from above Wen wellsprings of his courage and his rare World-shaping gifts of tolerance and ! JOM. INEZ BARCLAY KIRBY. ^