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Show SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, TIIE JOURNAL 19 HOME TOWN REPORTER WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS President Truman Asks for Unity as Nation Builds Up Two Schools of Thought Confuse Policy Picture Foreign Armed Might; U. N. Forces Continue Retreat in Korea Nation's Shead By Walter A. President Truman opened his State of the Union message to congress with the words our country is ifl a healthy condition. From that point he stressed strength and unity in the face of Communist aggression throughout the world. One of the remarkable points of the Presidents message was his apparent willingness to drop his much debated Fair Deal program for the time being in order to get on with the business of building up the free worlds ability to e a war against wage Russia, if such conflict becomes necessary. Mr. Trumans plea for unity was impressive and undoubtedly won him some new friends in a hostile congress. I ask the congress for I do not ask, or expect, unity Let us debate the unanimity issues, but let every man among us weigh his words and deeds, he said. Many legislators called the Presidents speech conciliatory. And despite certain routine political sharpshooting which some Republicans indulged in after his address, it was obvious that the opposition party was affected favorably by his effort to find unity of purpose. It seems likely that an era of and political greater peace is in store for the 82nd congress than could have been hoped for a few months ago. The people along the main streets of America may at least see swift and vital decisions made to meet the crisis. It was also evident from the Presidents speech that on one point he would not give an inch. He stood unyielding on the issue of with western military Europe. It is on this point that the congress may find itself involved in a bitter battle. For the time being, however, President Trumans stock with the 82nd congress seems to have climbed several notches. Although the President impressed many in congress, and his message was considered one of his best speeches in recent months, his popularity with the U.S. people was e at an low. (EDITOR8 NOTE: When opinion are expressed In these columns, they are those of Western Newspaper Unlont news analysts and not necessarily of this newspaper i full-scal- .... .... all-tim- The Program President Truman outlined legislative program a in mes- 10-poi- nt his State of the Union sage to congress: 1. Appropriations for the armed forces build-up- . 2. Extension and revision of the draft law, presumably to and extend induct the draft terra from 21 to 27 or 30 months. 3. Military and economic aid to the rest of the free world. 4. Revision and extension of his authority to expand production and control wages, prices, and rents. 5. Improvement of the agricultural laws to help obtain the kinds of farm products we need for the defense effort. This might include a direct subsidy to farmers to keep from setting farm price ceilings at less than parity. 6. Improvement of labor laws to help provide stable relations and assure steady production. 7. Housing and training of defense workers and the full use of all our man-powresources." 8. Legislation to increase the supply of doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. 9. Federal aid to the States for elementary and secondary education. labor-manageme- nt er 10. A taxes. major increase in e With food prices near the high of July, 1948, which 1935-39 was nearly 217.3 per cent of the average, the government moratorium on all prices increased. The chart drafted a above traces the food price spiral. The moratorium was delayed by disagreement within the governments economic-contrall-tim- 30-d- ay mb Pattern Repeated the Korean conflict continued to repeat itself. Following the January 1 attack by Chinese and North Korean Communists on United Nations forces south of the 38th parallel, a general retreat to the south and the old Pusan beachhead continued. The retreat was along the old Heartbreak Highway down which Americans and South Koreans first retreated before the North Korean invaders last July. Although Comi. unist casualties were reported heavy, the Reds continued to attack and push southward. It seemed unlikely that United Nations forces would be able to establish a line short of the Pusan beachhead. What would happen after that is anyones guess. Some military leaders believe U.N. troops will be able to stand off Communist thrusts with the aid of U.S. fleet guns. It seemed unlikely, however, that a counteroffensive could be launched for months. Observers inclined to the more pessimistic view believed U.N. forces would have only time enough to establish a beachhead from which an evacuation similar to the one at Hungnam could be carried out. It was obvious to every observer that the position of U.N. troops in Korea was steadily growing worse. And there was no indication that their position would get The pattern of better. One report was circulated that General MacArthur recommended the withdrawal of U.N. forces from Korea. It was later denied in Washington. as Mr. Herbert Hoover seems to lieve, that the people of this counbe- try have degenerated into a nation of rodents. It is as foreign to the nature and character of the men and women who till the soil of Americas vast expanses of farms and fields and to the staunch independent, freedom-loving folks at the grass roots in the home towns of this country to crawl into a hole, and, as the saying goes, pull it in after them, as it is for the American eagle to assume the qualities of the carrion buzzard or traits of the thieving, boisterous crow. And yet, during the past few weeks two schools of thought on the nations foreign policy have been put forth and the people seem confused. Mr. Hoover would crawl into our hole and pull our two oceans in over us and let the rest of the world go hang. John Foster Dulles, of Mr. Hoovers own political party, would face the world, would offer our military and moral strength to save western civilization from the onslaught of Communist barbarians. If we should do as Mr. Hoover suggests, scamper into our holes, like rats and mice, Mr. Dulles says we would not be the kind of a United States which could defend loss of the battle of North Korea" there is one fact which in the mind of this reporter will do more to impress all Asia than if we had won a signal military victory. That was, when despite the extremity 0f the military evacuation of Hung- nam, we did not forget our friends and we had the moral stamina to evacuate with our own men more than 100,000 friendly Koreans. Airlift Was Victory The Berlin airlift was a moral victory over overwhelming odds in the cold war with Russia. We kept our word to feed those people in Berlin. We will keep our word with France, with England, with Belgium, with Greece and Turkey and all the other countries of the free world if we are to remain a nation worth defending. Would Lose Rhur But on the material and military side, there is one thing which Mr. Hoover and his followers overlook. Russia now has a manpower pool of some 800,000,000 to draw from. This nation alone has 150,000,000. But we even it up to some extent e by a edge on production and armament and firepower. If we abandon Europe, then we are A-Bohanding over to Russia the tremendous production resources of all itself. Europe and the rich steel assets of We have got to make up our the Rhur valley which would give minds quickly on this question. them the advantage in armament, Time is running out. Do you take and we couldnt dig our holes deep to your hole with the rats and enough here to keep them out. mice, or will you be on the side of the American eagle? Silhouettes Unfortunately, there is a segment Washington of the The nostalgic wind-u- p of the American press which bollame-duc- k con81st of the session sters the Hoover fallacy and gains swan-son- g . . . farewells, disciples by the simple expediency gress of criticism and division an old speeches, even a few tears and the n of a new Hitler stand-b- y and improved upon immediate swearing-ifreshwith brash many congress considerably by one Mr. Joe Stalin. men on both sides of the capital Stir up confusion, criticism, tell noiseless street lies often enough and big enough . . . Washingtons Atomic energy commission with underground cars, trolleys and eventually they will be bechairman, Gordon Dean lieved. in a taxi be. . . Two newsman These men in our national (above), reported recently the of living; the the Russians do have the atomic life, little men of little faith, are wailing and cracks, curb to the driver pulls bomb. He made the announcesaying we must abandon Korea. How much do you boys need? We must pull out of Europe, we ment during a news confermust abandon our solemn pledges, ence in which he told newsour moral commitments, our allies Remember 1946 men that the government will in Europe, we should forget the Remember the 1946 campaign have to cut down its development of atomic energy for United Nations and hoe our own which brought in the 80th congress had enough?, row, we must find a scapegoat for on the slogan peacetime uses because of the the loss of a battle in Korea. which referred principally to price international situation. ceilings and rationing of meat? Meat likely will be the first comDRAFT: Moral Stamina Shown modity to go under price control For All If we are to conquer communism, and rationing. It is rapidly passing Any day now the defense depart- it will not be by force beyond the purchasing ability of the ment will ask congress for a blank- of arms. No Gibraltarmilitary in this hemi- average American and many are et draft of all physically fit sphere will help ideas out of the clamoring for a pri'e ceiliny on this to serve 27 to 30 months United States. And in spite of the food commodity. in uniform. There is a question, however, whether or not congress will approve immediately. A number oi legislators were reported splitting hairs over the request. Many felt that 18 was young enough and 24 months long enough. The request was seen by many as a drastic move to achieve President Trumans goal of putting 3 million men under arms as soon as possible. Defense officials had hoped that the program could be in operation by July 1. ol KOREA: Ranking government do not believe, five-to-on- hi-co- st lds nations U. S. Seeks to Brand China Aggressor told Communist Sir UNITED Britains Gladwyn Jebb the United Nations his country was not yet ready for a final decision on American demands for U.N. condemnation of Red China as an aggressor. He hold the U.N. that to look well before you leap Is a wise maxim in foreign affairs. If we do leap, we should all leap together. There was an undertone to Jebbs speech, however, that indicated Britain and other countries might go along eventually with the American proposal for a verdict condemning Peiping as an aggressor " in Korea. In many quarters it was believed that Britain, which has recognized China, is leaning more and more to the American view of Chinas aims in the far east. The British have long maintained the view that a final break in relations with China would not help United Nations troops and would have a dreadful effect on the Chinese people. The failure of recent cease-fir- e talks with China greatly influenced the British toward the American viewpoint. It may take some time, but ultimately the free nations of the world will brand China the aggressor. After that will come diplomatic and economic sanctions desired b i the United States. REVOLT LEADER ARRAIGNED . . . Pedro Albizu Compos (center), president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist party, is shown, pokerfaced, in the district court at San Juan as he was arraigned on several charges in connection with the Nationalist uprising of October 30 in which wounded. 28 persons lost their lives and hundreds were |