Evening star. [volume], November 26, 1951, Page A-11, Image 11

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

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David Lawrence:
MacArthur Outcry Confirmed
Air Gen. Vanderberg's Report on Inspection in Korea
Shows That People Have Been Denied the Truth
The truth comes out at last.
Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg. chief
of the United States Air Forces,
has confirmed the military
soundness of the position taken
by Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur
with reference to the war in
Korea.
For speaking out w’hile there
was still time to save American
lives from being lost. Gen. Mac
Arthur was dismissed by Presi
dent Truman.
For speaking out now—after
the lives have been lost—no ac
tion will be taken against Gen.
Vandenberg. and none of course
should be, but it shows that the
American people have been de
nied the truth for many months
as their ow’n Government has
deliberately handed to the
enemy a military advantage
that has no precedent in the
wars of history. In reporting
on his inspection trip to Korea,
Gen. Vandenberg writes:
"Almost overnight China has
become one of the major air
powers of the world. Obviously
it has attained this status as the
direct beneficiary pf another
power possessing the essential
industrial and technical re
sources that Communist China
Itself lacks."
Here is an indictment of
United Nations policy by a
member of the United States
Joint Chiefs of Staff. For it
was the members of the United
Nations who denied the Amer
ican Air Forces the opportunity
to bomb enemy bases in Man
churia. Gen. Vandenberg adds:
"Our control of the air in
Northwest Korea, although by
no means lost, is not as firm
as it was."
That single sentence tells
the story of military delay and
military defeat accomplished by
a refusal to follow up normal
military advantages. Gen. Van
denberg puts it this way:
“However severe the fighting,
however great the effort, the air
war over Korea so far has been
a limited war, a war in w'hich
the blows that might lead to a
decision have been withheld.”
Why have these blows been
withheld? The answer given
last May before the Senate
Armed Services Committee by
members of the administration
was that there was a fear the
war might spread. Russia,
therefore, has successfully in
timidated the American Gov
ernment. More than 100.000
American casualties have been
expended in a war that was not
fought with maximum power.
That will take a lot of explana
tion by President Truman and
Secietary of State Acheson to
the parents and relatives of the
bo\s who were asked to make
such un unprecedented sacri
fice to fear.
Gen. Vandenberg has written
into the record a more devastat
ing indictment than Gen. Mac
Arthur ever wrote, i For the Air
Force chief says now:
"The surest and most econom
ical way of establishing air su
premacy is to shatter an enemy
air force on the ground—to de
stroy systematically the bases
from which his aircraft operate
together with ground facilities
that make it possible for them to
operate, and ^he factories that
provide a flow of replacement
for his air force in being.
“Under the ground rules
established at the outset of the
Korean war, it is Impossible for
us to gain air supremacy over
the Chinese Communist air
force under the classical defini
tion. We. on our side, for rea
sons that we all understand,
have followed a policy of not
attacking the strongholds of
enemy air power directly across
the Yalu.”
But do all of us understand
those reasons9 Who established
those “ground rules”? And
when the forthcoming truce is
signed, does it mean that the
buildup beyond the Yalu will
continue and that the inspection
which is supposed to be one of
the terms of the truce will not
extend to the air bases beyond
the Yalu? And will the Com
munist high command have a
free hand to continue to mount
such air forces as can swoop
down at any moment and attack
all our air bases in Korea when
ever it suits them to break the
truce? Gen. Vandenberg has
revealed the perilous position of
350.000 American troops. The
draft calls for more troops to
replace them are going on every
month in increasing numbers.
Meanwhile. Russia st.ill re
mains a member of the United
Nations, though a member of
the Joint Chiefs openly accuses
her of aiding Communist China
which regime has been declared
an “aggressor” by the United
Nations. Not a word of protest
has come from Secretary Ache
son at the United Nations meet
ing in Paris about this flagrant
violation of the principles of the
United Nations Charter.
iReoroduction rights reserved.)
Doris Fleeson: \
Democrats' Dream Dies Hard
Eisenhower Hopes Gone, the Party Quietly Seeks
A Candidate; Truman Is Still the Key Factor
The dream has died hard
among Democrats that some
how, some way, Gen. Eisen
hower would rescue them from
their troubles. It was a dream
that never had much substance
so far as the general personally
was concerned, but rested solely
on the fact of his identification
with administration foreign
policy.
Now that a group of Repub
licans has' come forward to
support him on the basis of his
internationalism with the gen
eral's silence giving a certain
consent, Democrats are accept
ing defeat of the dream. Some,
principally officeholders, think
it means that President Tru
man must run again whether
or not he wants to do it. Other'
are looking for a candidate.
It is conceded that the Pres
ident is the key figure If he
decides to be renominated, he
will be and he can count on
firmer support from all sections,
except possibly the South, than
he had in 1948.
What he cannot count on is
his power to bestow the crown
where he chooses. A quiet pro
gram of organization has been
launched within the party, and
its aim is to name a fighting
candidate if and when Mr.
-Truman bows out.
Senator Kefauver of Tennes
see is the present choice of
Democrats determined that the
election shall not go by default.
They would prefer a Governor
from a pivotal State who has
not been associated with Wash
ington and its well advertised
problems, none seems to fill
the bill.
Senator Taft is in part re
sponsible for the conviction of
Democrats that the chairman of
the crime committee may be
able to save them next year.
Mr. Taft as of now is campaign
ing on two issues: The Korean
war is wrong, and corruption in
Government. Democrats can
not escape responsibility for the
Korean war and they can al
ways hope that division among
Republicans with respect to it
will profit them, even if that
war is unpopular next Novem
ber.
The corruption issue, which
many feel is the more danger
ous, has not been firmly met
by the President. Yet it is fact
that Democrats have uncovered
the problems so long in the
headlines and have pushed the
remedies for them. Of all their
crusaders. Senator Kefauver has
been the most successful.
It is not always true that
political legend created by pub
licity, luck or a happy accident
of timing fits the facts. Many
observers here will still contend,
for example, that the brain
power of the Truman War In
vestigating Committee, which
put the present President in i
a position to inherit the White :
House, belonged to its counsel, i
Hugh Fulton, and not to Harry j
Truman. It is not disputed, j
however, that Senator Kefauver
ran his committee, plotted its
strategy and earned the reputa
tion he acquired from it.
Democrats who believe that
Senator Kefauver can be a
formidable candidate are not
counting on his border State
background to win over the
Southern conservatives When
the actual battle is joined they ,
think it will he helpful but they
have no designs on the Dixie
crats. Nor do they attach too
much importance to the con
ciliatory statement on civil
rights released over the week
end by Senator Humphrey of
Minnesota, a principal architect
of the civil rights plank in the
1948 party platform. Senator
Humphrey noticeably refrained
from mentioning a concrete
compromise.
Their story's that it's no good
substituting the Eisenhower il
lusion for another illusion that j
Democratic differences can be j
covered up. But they find
ground for optimism in the
Gallup poll that says more
Americans are Democrats than
are Republicans, with independ- 1
ents holding the balance of
power.
Thomas L. Stokes:'
Hands Across the Mason-Dixon
Senator Humphrey Addresses Himself to the South On
The Civil Rights Issue That Threatens the Party
One of the most significant
political developments in many
months is the very conciliatory
hands - across - the - Mason -
and - Dixon - Line gesture to
the South by Senator Humphrey.
Democrat, of Minnesota. In a
letter to a score of Southern
newspaper editors released over
the week end he dealt in a frank
and friendly manner with the
controversial civil rights issue.
His overtures, though care
fully guarded, represent a most
important step in current nego
tiations within the Democratic
Party for a compromise on
civil rights in order to pull the
teeth of the revived Dixiecrat
movement and, if possible, unify
the party.
Senator Humphrey is a key
figure in this dilemma. He has
become — which he regrets — a
symbol in the South because it
was he who led the successful
floor rebellion at the 1948 con
vention that upset majority
recommendations of the Reso
lutions Committee for a general
ized civil rights plank and, in
stead, substituted in the plat
form a down-the-line endorse
ment of President Truman's
civil rights program, including
FEPC. That inflamed Southern
delegates and the South gen
erally and was the ultimate ex
cuse for—and the chief weapon
of—the Dixiecrat independent
party that wrested four States
from Mr. Truman.
Because of these circum
stances, it was Senator Hum
phrey, himself, who had to
speak up to have any meaning
in the South. He recognized
that. That he spoke up. there
fore, is of considerable weight
The most meaningful thing he
said in his 3.000-word epistle
to the Southerners wras his in
vitation, in effect, to sit down
and counsel with one another
—as the apostle would put it—
thus:
“I welcome the opportunity to
work with men and women from
all parts of America and from
all groups for the attainment of
these objectives" previously spe
cified by him as "equal opportu
nity for all; the full rights of
citizenship for all; full and equal
protection of the law for all.”
He thus opened the door, at
least, to a reconsideration of the
means by which these objectives
might be attained. He did not
withdraw from his own personal
stand for the President's pro
gram. This he embodied some
time ago in eight separate bills,
a procedure which makes it
possible, it is worth noting here,
for Congress to drop or modify
any one. the FEPC for instance.
He did not mention the FEPC by
name, nor try to defend its
compulsory nature, which is
what the South complains about
chiefly.
In short, there would seem to
be room for negotiation by men
and women of good will in his
friendly approach and in all
that he said.
This can be appreciated bet
ter with a knowledge of the
background, which can now be
disclosed. His letter, to w'hich
he gave considerable time and
thought, is the result of dis
cussions with him, among
others, by Representative Hays,
Democrat, of Arkansas, earnest
and sincere sponsor of a com
promise program presented to
Congress two years ago.
This helps to an understand
ing of the meaning of this
portion of the Senator’s letter;
“I believe that the Govern
ment has the responsibility to
set standards or guiSeposts. It
then becomes the responsibility
for spiritual, civic and educa
tional institutions, as well as
individual leaders, to create
observance and respect for these |
standards among the people. My j
program for civil rights places j
its main emphasis upon com
munity activity, • individual
responsibility, education and
moral values, supported by
legislative standards. I do not
believe that such a program in
dicates "going too fast’ or ‘too
far.’ ”
As for FEPC, Representative
Hays’ program provides for j
goals and standards and for a
commission in the Labor De- i
partment. advisory only, which :
would work with State and local j
agencies to try to achieve by J
voluntary co-operation the goals
of fair employment practices
without discrimination. Brooks
Hays has pursued intently some
way to lift civil rights out of
partisan and factional politics
and, as a matter of fact. Senator
Humphrey expressed a similar
desire when he wrote the South
ern editors, as follows:
“This question, both in the
North and in the South, has too
often been identified with
specific economic and political
factions. It is far too important ;
a question to be turned into a I
weapon for or against labor
unions, for or against the Demo
crats, or for or against the
Republicans.”
The Senator stressed heavily
the necessity of a human rights
program “spelled out in clear
and unmistakable language” to
draw to our side in the fight
against Communism more than
a billion people in the world
“who are neither white nor
Christian.”
He identified himself with the
South, explaining that he and
his wife and members of his
family had lived there. He spoke
of the “close bond" between the
people in the region he repre
sents and those of the South
through common economic
problems and told of his support
for measures to encourage the
South's development. He em
phasized likewise his “deep re
spect for the traditions of the
South.”
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Fletcher Knebel:
Potomac Fever
House investigators will o.uiz Assistant Attorney General Candle
about a mink coat his wife sot at discount. The mink may yet
become the only animal in history to lose an American election
since the elephant.
* * * *
Vice President Barkley fires a howitzer into enemy lines in
Korea. Praise the Lord, and pass the nomination!
* * * ♦
Secretary of the Army Pace says recruits will be given six hours
of lectures on economy. It's a great idea, especially since it's hoped
the whole lecture program won't add more than $1 million to the
cost of running the Army.
* * * *
Hungary demands that we return the crown of St. Stephan for
their release of Robert Vogeler. The Reds want to show the people
that in the days of the kings, the upkeep was terrific. Under
Communism, by contrast, all life is cheap.
* * * *
Gen. Ike says he can't answer ‘ at this time'1 the plea by
Eisenhower-for-President clubs that he run. Ike's saving his voice
until Taft gets hoarse.
* * * •
The Truman administration says it s still searching in vain for
a man who wants to be economic stabilizer at $20,000 a year.
What's needed is one of those successful fellows who can boast
that by the time he was 30. the Govevnment had taken awav his
first million.
* * * *
Russia s Vishinsky. rejecting Allied disarmament plans, says
Russia “will not bargain with our principles." Even Russians can’t
bargain with what they’ve lost.
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Constantine Brown:
Red Incidents Follow Pattern
Moscow Makes Political Capital Among Asiatics
By Proclaiming U. S. Inaction Is Weakness
It is not sheer lust for killing
that prompts the Kremlin and
its satellites to break every
tenet of civilization and single
out Americans for their victims.
The mass murder of several
thousand American prisoners of
war in Korea, the destruction
oi two American Navy planes
within one year by Russian
fighter planes, the arrest and
sentencing of innocent Ameri
can citizens to long terms in
jail all form a political pattern
which Moscow has devised to
make political capital in the
Asiatic and Islamic countries as
well as among the masses in
Western Europe.
When these people hear that
America, their main hope and
support in the fight against the
Communist avalanche, accepts
these unprecedented insults and
provocations lying down they
naturally feel that we are not
as strong as we are supposed
to be. Otherwise there would be
an immediate reaction from our
Government which would put an
end to this Asiatic arrogance.
The Second World War is still
fiesh in the memory of all
people. They remember that
before we became engaged in
the last conflict our Govern
ment tolerated no shenanigans
on the part of the Nazis and
Fascists. Hitler and Mussolini
were most careful not to step
on our toes although we had
given them some cause when we
escorted, while still neutral.
British transports around South
Africa and extended our terri
torial waters from the inter
nationally established three
mile limit to about 200 miles
from our shores.
Because, maybe, we have sub
jected the security of our citi
zens to an international organ
ization created to maintain
peace at any price, our Govern
ment does not react in the
manner American administra
tions reacted in the pre-United
Nations days. Our diplomatic
actions apparently must be in
keeping with the wishes and
desires of the other members of
the U. N. and particularly our
associates in the NATO. And
they are counseling patience
and forbearance, lest an erup
tive action on our part jeop
ardize their own international
position.
Very recent provocations from
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the U. S. S. R., Czechoslovakia
and Romania are being glossed
over. It may be that our Gov
ernment. knowing the weak
ness of our Allies and our own
state of preparedness does not
consider it wise to make a
major issue of these flagrant
violations. But we could at least
break off diplomatic relations
with these countries which
flopt international law. One
does not have social intercourse
with gangsters.
The mass murder of several
thousand American prisoners of
war would have brought loud
protests from all the civilized
nations in the past. The Amer
ican people whose sons have
been so brutally murdered have
a definite right to expect a wave
of indignation from the other
civilized countries. The Amer
ican soldiers are fighting under
the United Nations flag.
Yet not a single whisper has
come from that dignified or
ganization which is holding its
plenary session in Paris. Instead
we hear that the Western dip
lomats are exchanging official
niceties with the gangsters sent
to Paris by the Kremlin. Only
recently, after the murder of
American prisoners was pub
licized, a photograph of Secre
tary of State Acheson smiling
pleasantly at Comrades Vishin
sky and Malik was printed in
most of our papers. This may
be diplomacy 1951 style, but
it is not easily stomached by the
relatives and friends of the
victims.
In its natural and under
standable desire to prevent a
world-wide conflict, our Gov
ernment is leaning backwards
to hide, as much as possible,
news which may prove irritating
to the American people. Thus
the first reaction of the Penta
gon to the Hanley report about
the massacre of prisoners of war
was to minimize it. In London,
the British Secretary of War
stated in the House of Commons
that he did not have any verified
reports on that matter—which
was a correct statement—but he
added in as far as the British
prisoners were concerned, they
were well treated.
In support of this contention
he cited a number of letters
written by these men to their
families* The British official
should have added for the sake
of accuracy that the Commu
nists have a very persuasive way
of making their prisoners write
sucli letters. The whip or the
pistol are powerful arguments
for helpless men.
The news of the “presumed
destruction"—to use the fa
vorite official terminology—of a
Navy bomber in the Pacific close
to Siberian territorial waters
was held up for more than two
weeks by the Navy Department.
It was released after enterpris
ing American reporters in Paris
got the story and published it
in a weekly magazine in New
York. The story could noi be
denied particularly after the
Russians gave two of their flyers
the equivalent of the Navy Cross
for great services. Similar
awards had been made after
another American Navy plane
was destroyed last year in the
Baltic Sea.
All these Soviet provocations
are prompted -not only because
that is the way they understand
international affairs but prin
cipally because they are making
capital out of the continued
humiliations imposed on the
United States. It strikes terror
among the nations on the fringe
of the U. S. S. R.; it creates a
doubt among our European
allies about our strength and
paves the way for the Kremlin
to increase its authority in the
international field.
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