Evening star. [volume], July 29, 1948, Image 15

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Republicans Showed
Restraint in Reply to
Truman on Inflation
Aid Being Sent to Europe
Basically Responsible
For Rising Living Costs
R'y David Lawrence
The country owe* * vote of thanks
♦n the Republican* for their self
restraint. If the Republicans had
chosen to answer In kind President
Truman’s political maneuvers In
blaming the high cost of living on
the Republican Congress, the con
sequences might have been shocking.
For the Republicans have never
made full use of the most potent
piece of political argument they
could use this year—namely, that if
the whole truth were revealed about
the high cost of living, it would be
discovered that mopey and ma
terials going to aid Europe are
basically responsible for today’s in
flation.
It would not be difficult to imagine
the Republican stump - speakers
going up and down the country
telling the American people they
could have more autos and mure
housing if the steel and other build
ing materials and manpower were
not being used to supply Europe
under the Marshall Plan.
Due to Abnormal uemanfl.
Likewise, it America’s exports of
goods and farm products were not
being subsidized by the American
taxpayers, the Republicans could
point out that the cost of living
would not be so high. Even wage
levels would not be as high as they
are today if manpower were not
short due to the abnormal demand
created by the European recovery
plan.
On a strictly dog-eat-dog basis in
modern politics,t the Republicans
would have a tremendous argument
In an appeal to nationalism. It
worked in the 1920s and it probably
could bring votes today for the
party out of power. President Tru
man may, of course, goad the Re
publicans into that kind of cam
paign He took a big risk in blam
ing the Republican Congress for
the high cost of living when every
body who knows the facts is aware
that European demand has pre
vented a deflation this year and
actually increased the inflation. N
This doesn’t mean that there is
no basis for some form of Govern
ment controls. On the contrary,
the sound arguments for such con
trols havo' been obscured by the
partisan political atmosphere with
which the President has enveloped
the whole problem. It is unlikely
that the Republicans will take lying
down the accusation that they alone
have been responsible for the rise
in living costs.
Bound to Create Shortage.
When a government spends from
112,000.000.000 to $15,000,000,000 a
year for armament, it is bound to
create a shortage in steel and otjier
materials. This causes building
costs to go up because, when prod
ucts are in short supply, they usually
rise in price. To control prices,
moreover, doesn't always keep away
black markets or encourage in
creased production.
The only way to cure inflation is
to bring a balance between supply
and demand. There would have
been such a balance, this year but
tor the inflationary action resulting
from the European Recovery Pro
gram and the increase in the rearm
ament program.
But these things were necessary.
Both political parties supported the
legislation appropriating money for
European recovery and for an en
larged armament program. It
doesn't behoove the Trumarr admin
istration now to seek partisan ad
vantage by charging Republicans
with the blame for these economic
trends.
Maintenance of the bipartisan
policy in foreign affairs is vital to
the Nation because only a unified
country' can ward off a third world
war. The Republicans have wisely
refrained from telling the whole
story about the administration’s
diplomatic blunders in dealing with
Russia. And the Republicans have
not answered the Tsuman charges
on inflation, as they could, in par
tisan vein. The Republican state
ment of policy about the extra ses
sion was dignified and restrained.
It is to be hoped that the Repub
licans, though given ample provoca
tion, will not allow themselves to
be dragged into the position of at
tacking European aid as the true
cause of inflation. For that might
appeal to selfishness throughout the
Nation and, in the end. hurt the
whole cause of world peace
(Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
This Changing World
Unity of Western Allies Against Russia
At Stake in New French Cabinet Policy
By Constantine Brown I
The new French government may
be destined for a short life unless
Its Premier, Andre Marie, Is able to
And some way of .reconciling the
divergent elements which compose
his cabinet.
The coalition of middle-of-the
roaa ana mod
erate Left ele
ments Is united
really on only
one thing —op
position to ex
tremism of ei
ther the Left or
the Right, that
is, either com
munism or De
gaullism.
Beyond that
the Socialists,
[ Radical Social -
i ists. Popular Re
publicans and
1 Independent Re
Constantine Brown.
pumicans see eye u> eye on jew
| issues, and are particularly divided
on economic questions, with the
■Socialists contending for higher
wages and lower prices as an ac
1 complishment they can utilize in the
i fci thcoming ele#tions.
The Centrist and Moderate Right
parties are just as determined to
keep wage and price increases under
control in a desperate battle against
inflation, and as minister of finance,
Paul Reynaud will bear the brunt
of battle over the economic Issues.
Weakens Hand of Allies.
French political vagaries have
always been more or less of a dis
turbing element in European politi
cal affairs, and it is so now. Coming
at a time when the Western Allies
are trying to decide on a policy
toward Russia and her expansion
ism in Germany, the French gov-!
ernment troubles Inject an element;
of instability which weakens the
hands of the powers with which
France is allied.
Some suspicion has arisen that
the recent change of government
was precipitated for the express
purpose of reorienting France away
from what to some of her leaders
began to appear like excessively
deep commitments on the German
question.
The issue on which Premier
Robert Schuma* resigned was a
very small margin of difference over
the size of the arms budget, with
the Socialists insisting on deeper
cuts than Mr. Schuman was will
ing to make. When the crisis
came the area of difference was so
small that it could possibly have
been bridged,' if other considera
tions had not intervened, as for
instance, a desire to put new per
, sonnel in charge of the govern
ment’s foreign policy.
under tne direction oi ueorges.
Bidault in the Foreign Ministry
France had become pretty definitely
associated with the strong policy
toward Russia which the United
States has championed. Insofar as
that policy created the prospect of
an armed clash with Russia. France
as a whole was on the reluctant
side, favoring more than a little
concession to Russia in order to
avoid any conflict.
This willingness to retreat rather
than take a firm stand arises not
from apprehension over France's
own Communist Party so much as
it does from the prospect that
France might again be made
a battleground—this time in a ca
tastrophic conflict between East and
West. This is open and avowed fear
of Russia and brings to mind the
role played by Edouard Daladier in
the appeasement of Adolf Hitler at
Munich in 1938. At that time it was
fear of Nazi Germany.
Weak Element In Unity.
The French psychology In inter
national affairs is distinctly con
tinental, of course, and is colored
by France's proximity to dynamic
and aggressive nations. France is
next-door neighbor to Germany for
several hundreds of miles, and the
fear that this engenders will not be
dissipated until Germany has given |
positive proof that she has been
cleansed of all political and military
menace to France.
France is only one door down the
street from an even graver threat—
that of Sdvlet Russia and its satel
lites. Russian divisions stand ready
not only in Germany—from which
attack on France could come in
virtually a few hours—but also in
Austria and the Balkans. Even
Yugoslavia — despite its apparent
ousting from the Comlnform—must
still be considered a potential ally of
Soviet Russia; and the route into
France across Northern Italy must
not be overlooked.
The French—allied with us di
rectly as one of the occupying pow
ers in Western Germany, and in
directly as a member of the West
ern European Union—are then, to
say the least, a restraining influence
on Western policy toward Russia,
and could become a dangerously
weak element in the unity of the
Western powers when and if a
showdown occurs, for regardless of
the outcome of an East-West con
flict France sees herself destroyed
again and reduced to slavery to
Soviet Russia . while the Western
powers are mounting the counter
offensive.
Observers in capitals throughout
the world are watching closely to
see the position the new govern
ment will take on France’s existing
foreign commitments, for the uhity
of the Western Allies against Russia
is at stake.
Campaigning by Plane
Truman Keeps His DC-6 Standing By
Should He Make New Plea to Voters
By Doris Fleesnn
Secretary of State Marshall has
told President Truman that he
hopes to visit Europe's trouble spots
soon and the President said that
seemea use a
good idea.
The President
added, however,
that he was sor
ry his DC-6, the
Independ
ence, which he
has often lent
Secretary Mar
shall for such
journeys, would
not be available.
The Secretary,
he said, could
have its prede
cessor, the Sa
cred Cow.
Doris Fleeson.
The President's plans for the In
dependence are political. The Dem
ocrats are not attracting the kind of
money that will pay for special
trains across the country and the
President learned on his June tour
that such travel made a big dent
in his allowance.
Keeps Plane Standing By.
As he has not the slightest in
tention of allowing anything to in
terfere with his efforts to get him
self re-elected, he will keep his
plane standing by, in case. The
Independence is one of 12 transports,
officially described as special mission
aircraft, which th$ Military Air
Transport Service keeps for Gov
ernment and military officials.
MATS is responsible for mainte
nance and operation; the costs
come out of the military budget.
The Republicans can and doubt
less will holler but the President
is in the frame of mind where he
] feels justified in taking any steps
to get his case before the country.
His theory is that the public won’t
resent his use of his plane or al
lowance because he is trying to get
things done for them.
What is hardening the President’s
spirit, according to his friends, is
not Republican attacks, which to
him are just politics, but the failure
of the Democrats to rally round. He
also meant it more than somewhat
when he spoke of labor’s ingratitude. 1
After repeated invitations, CIO
President Murray finally called at
the White House last week, but
there appears little chance thht an
aggressive CIO-PAC drive will be
launched to help ttie Truman bid.
The brutal fact is that CIO feels
Mr. Truman's chances are nil, so it
will put its money into congres
sional contests.
Other Plans Misfire.
States like New York, Illinois and
Ohio claim that they are too
severely besieged locally by the Wal
lace Party to come to the aid of the ■
National Committee. The great loss j
remains the South which, not need
ing either its funds or its orators to
win local victories, made them avail
able for national use in other years.
National Committee plans to lure :
some of the administration Wall :
Streeters into financial posts in the
campaign seem also to have mis- •
fired.
All this leaves the President very :
much alone, and in this fact many 1
experienced Republicans see some
danger to Gov. Dewey. ’They do not
believe that the President can sell
himself as a Mr. Fixit; they do fear
that he may create sympathy for
himself which will pay off at the
polls. . _
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LOUIE
By Harry Hanan
6H0E15
On the Other Hand
Independent Voters Would Like
To See Some Action by Congress
By Lowell Mellett
Some members of the Republican
high command are still struggling
with the problem of how to use this
special session of Congress to dls
cieuit/ me ricai
dent. It is not
an easy prob
lem.
Of couue,
there are many
things the Re
publican leaders
can say, many
things that will
sound convinc
ing, many things
that are even
true. For ex
ample, it really
was a Demo
cratic tax bill
that repealed
Lowell Mellett.
the excess profits tax, wmcn me
President wants restored. But there
Is not much political nourishment
in that for his opponents now that
ne is admitting the mistake and
seeking to rectify it in the light
3f the preposterous profits being
,aken from the people’s pockets.
Or there are foolish things they
:an say, such as the comment of
Representative Leo R. Allen of
Illinois:
“His (the President's) attacks on
Congress have not been directed at
RepublMhn policies, but at the
American institution of representa
tive government.”
Bill Rests In Committee.
Mr. Allen is chairman of the
House Rules Committee. His quaint
inception of "representative gov
;mment” is illustrated by the pres
et status of housing legislation,
rhere rests in his committee a bill
U> do all the President is asking
in the matter of housing. It is a
sill that has the conservative Sen
ator Taft for one of its authors. It
vas passed by a decisive majority in
he Senate, despite the bitter op
position of the real estate lobby.
(They called Senator Taft, of all
seople, a "Communist,” when they
ran out of argument.)
This bill was held up in the House
Banking and Currency Committee
intil the very last week of the regu
ar session. Then, to the surprise
)f the committee chairman. Repre
sentative Jesse P. Wolcott of Michi
gan, a close vote caused it to be re
ported favorably to the House,
rhereupon Mr. Allen’s notion of
•ijpresentative government came
nto play.
His commiuee, me rtuiee v/um
nittee, has the authority to say
jvhat bills shall be put to a vote
n the House. It can keep a bill
rom the floor, if it so desires, re
iardless of the action of the stand
ng committee which has considered
md reported the bill. In the case
)f this housing bill, however, the
Jules Committee agreed to permit
i vote—on part of the bill, the part
o which the real estate lobby did
lot object!
Must Look Nice to Stalin.
If that’s representative govern
nent, it must look nice to Josef
Stalin.
Thanks to President Truman this
leed not be the end of the matter,
rhe Taft-Ellender-Wagner bill, leg
slatively speaking, is still in Chair
nan Allen s committee. It can be
orced out for a vote by a petition
bearing the names of a majority of
the members of the House and that
number of names appears to be
available.
It Is difficult to see therefore how
the President can fail to get one of
the measures for which he called
the special session, no matter what
cute strategy the Republican leaders
may cook up. Happily, it is a meas
ure that of itself justifies bringing
Congress back to town.
So the President is not likely to
be discredited by anything this
special session does. But the Con
gress may easily bring more dis
credit on Itself. If this happens, the
President’s slim chance of re-elec
tion will be omswhat improved.
It may be that the Republican
leaders will see this; that they will
stop floundering around in the net
in which the President has caught
them and will get .down to business.
Some millions of independent
voters will like them better if they
do.
McLemore—
Ready to Swim
The Hellespont
By Henry McLemore
ISTANBUL, Turkey. — If you
haven’t completed your vacation
plans, let me give you a tip—In
clude Istanbul.
This Is a city that hits you right
in tne lace wnen
you first see it
—and keeps on
punching.
As I sit here
writing this col
umn, on a bal
cony of the Park
Hotel, the Bos
porus ( is right
in front of me,
with its ever
changing colors
of water, its
boats of many
lands arriving
and departing.
To my right is
Mr. MeL*m*r«.
Europe, to my icil is
By turning my head I can see the
Golden Horn, and without turning
it at all I can see countless minarets
and mosques and Leander’s Tower,
now serving as a lighthouse in the
Bosporus.
A Caravan, Anyway.
In the hazy distance purple
mountains guard the entrance to
the Black Sea, and less than an
hour ago a camel caravan passed
along the street below.
(Author’s note: The above para
graph is not intended as a plug
tor a cigarette company. It was a
camel caravan, not'a phesterfleld
or Lucky Strike caravan.)
We had been in Istanbul less than
a day when we hot-tooted it down
to the Pan American offices and
arranged to stay an extra week,
our original schedule having called
for only four days. To, try to see
Istanbul in four days wolild be like
trying to play a game of chess in
three minutes.
There is everything th see here.
Museum^, mosques, bazaars, and the
every-day happenings on the
streets.
Just a minute ago Jean called
me to the edge of the balcony and
said. "Do you see the .same thing
I do?”
Two men were carrying a huge
tray with a handle at each end.
The tray was filled with what Amer
icans would call housecoats, with
caps to match. Both men wore bust
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ness cults and sported gigantic
moustachlos. One of them, how
ever, had decided to model his
wans, and he had on over his suit
a bright cotton print housecoat that
i struck him above the knees, and
the matching cap set at a Jaunty
| angle.
Both of them were screaming at
the top of their lungs what must
; have been Turkish for: "You women
come out and buy a housecoat. See
how well It looks on ol' Joe Turk
here." • ^ ,
All in Seriousness.
All of this was done in utmost
seriousness.
America has' given something to
the culture of Turkey.
I know, because I saw it* with my
own eyes. •
Wandering through the oldest sec
tion of what used to be Constan
tinople, we came upon an old harem,
pronounced "hareem.” Its windows
were latticed so that the harem gals
could look out but no one could lode
in. More fascinating to us than
this centuries old building was the
sight of a Turkish youngster sitting
on the steps of the house, chewing
bubble gum like mad. The boy was
no novice at it either. He was just
u good a bubble-gummer u you'd
find In any American city.
This business of pronouncing
harem “hareem” has disturbed
my musical education. I always
used to sing, “In my harem . . .'my
harem . . . and the dance they do
...” Now I must learn to sing.
“In my hareem ... my hareem . ..
the dance they do, etc. . , .“
Excuse me, please! I am off to
swim the Hellespont.
Leander, first; Byron, second;
McLemore. third.
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