OCR Text |
Show The U. S. In Western Europe As inconclusive as are the overall results of the London conference, it must be admitted that the twelve Atlantic Pact nations, led by the United States, France, and England, did succeed in setting up some permanent per-manent machinery to organize a hurried defense if the cold war suddenly turns hot. In other words, even though no outstanding policy changes or additions were recorded at the meeting, arrangements were made to supplement the policies of unity and defense that have been common knowledge all along. Established were two new ad-ministratvie ad-ministratvie bodies, a committee of deputies of the foreign ministers min-isters to direct cold war strategy and man the defense in case of war and a North Atlantic planning plan-ning board to mobilize shipping in wartime. Policies reaffirmed were the rearmament of western Europe against Russia, the integration of the economy of the individual individ-ual nations, and the mobiliza tion of all resources of the free nations to contain the Soviet Union. Dean Acheson, American secretary sec-retary of state, can be congratulated congratu-lated for his part in accomplishing accomplish-ing these objectives, all of which are in line with his announced policy of total diplomacy. One may not always agree with Secretary Sec-retary Acheson, but he must admire ad-mire the man for his ability to stick to his guns and get things done. Undoubtedly, the United States will be expected to bear most of the expense necessary for the rearmament of western Europe. The individual conti- nental nations themselves, still taxed to the limit by incompleted incom-pleted recovery programs, can not be expected to pay their own way. So the dollars must come from Uncle Sam. Of course, the United States must stand behind the European nations in their efforts to pool their resources for maximum defense de-fense efforts. In as deeply as she is, the U. S. has no other choice. She must stand or die with western Europe. What will be the fruits of her endeavor is questionable. Men as well informed on foreign affairs af-fairs as James P. Warburg, author au-thor of "Last Call for Common Sense," among other books, believes be-lieves that all attempt to rearm Europe as a bulwark against Russia will be useless. He believe be-lieve that all attempts to rearm well armed Europe is, in case of war, the Soviets will overrun Europe within a few weeks. Because Be-cause of this possibility, he has suggested that the defense line against Russia be established in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States, while the latter, in the meantime, helps Europe recover economic stability. Only a powerful American army, he says, could hold western Europe, and the landing of that army would instigate the war we are trying to avoid. Neither the policy of Mr. Acheson or that of the Warburg school will save western Europe if war comes. Even though these countries held out against Russia, they would be demolished demolish-ed by Russian atomic weapons. If they went under, as in the case of the last war, they would be hammered by the western powers as a base of enemv on- erations. Europeans are famished for peace. After two wars of complete com-plete destruction in 21 years, their feelings are understandable. understand-able. Whether their desires will be consulted by east and west is doubtful. Mr. Acheson would readily let them have their own way, if he could. But Comrade Stalin is another story. GWH |