Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 March 1949 — Page 28

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The Indianapolis Times =

HENRY W. MANZ’ Business Manager

" A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER

"ROY W. HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE President Editor

PAGE 28 Sunday, Mar. 27, 1049 OT SP 10 ts Pag, Et

United Press, Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance, ice and Audit Bureau of Ci

Price in Marion County, 8 cents a copy for dally or Sunday; delivered by carrier dally and Sunday, 300 s week, daily ‘only, 25¢, Sunday only, 8c. Mail rates In Indiana, dally and Sunday, $7. a year, -daily, $5.00 a year, Sunday only, $2.50; all other states, U. 8. possessions, Canads and Mexico, daily, $1.10 a month, Sunday, de & copy.

: Telephone RI ley 5551 Give TAght and the People Will Find Their Own Way

Living Costs and Rents

; living costs fall—as the Labor Department re"ports they have for five months in a row—the dollars of landlords, tenants and all other consumers gain buying. power. ” : The Department's cost-of-living index hit a peak, 74%; per cent above the prewar base, last August and September. By Feb. 15, it was down to 69 per cent above the base. If its decline has continued since then, it's probably little if any higher now than it was a year ago. The January-to-February drop was the largest since 1940. Food prices fell most, clothing and house furnishings a little less. Rents and public utility services rose slightly. However, food is still nearly 100 per cent, while rents are only about 20 per cent, above the prewar base. » . ” » » - BUT neither landlords nor tenants will be altogether happy about the rent-control extension law which Congress finally will pass. Most landlords want all controls removed, just as ceilings on wages and all prices were taken off long since. Most tenants would like their rents frozen where they were before the war and post-war booms inflated everything else, or at least no higher than they .are now. House and Senate conferees have agreed on a measure that will provide for some increase of rents remaining under federal control and for local autonomy to communities whose elected officials decide to get rid of federal controls.

Neither provision seems to us unfair or unwise. Both

are steps toward restoring economic equilibrium. Unless.

rents eventually are restored to the same free market enjoyed by other services and commodities, the temporary shortage of rental dwellings will become permanent. The local-autonomy feature will cause some confusion. Elected officials in most smaller communities probably will try to get rid of controls as an unnecessary nuisance, while in most large cities the pressure of necessity will be to continue them. The decisions of local officials won't all be wise. But are federal officials any wiser? Are people Jess able to govern themselves on a local than on a national level?

Extending Marshall Aid

MINORITY Senators hope to cut the $5.5 billion Marshall aid authorization by $1 billion to $3 billion. This would be risky, perhaps disastrous. Certainly not a cent more than necessary should be allowed. The economy-minded ECA under Administrator Hoffman already has reduced the current proposal below last year's allocations. The true economy text is not only the total figure but what we get for our money. It would be economical to get required results for $5 billion, but inexcusable waste to shove $2 billion down a rathole. Whether the proposed total can be cut further without sacrificing results depends almost entirely on the cost of American supplies. The ECA estimates have allowed for some drop in the price level. If a larger drop appears likely when the Marshall appropriations bill is voted on, that will be time to consider another ‘cut—not in the pending authorization bill. This is the intelligent approach of Sen. Vanden-

berg. . . . . ” .

THE China authorization requires special consideration because of present chaos in that country and lack of a stable anti-Communist government. Distribution of American aid is impracticable at the moment. But it is no solution to scratch China off the aid list, as the House Foreign Affairs Committee has just done and as Chairman Connally predicts the Senate will do. : China aid should be authorized and appropriated, with actual expenditure subject to the Administrator's finding that an adequate Nationalist Government is operating. This would Lelp to revive China's shattered morale and encourage formation of a more effective anti-Communist regime. And if that happened, the aid would be available for immediate delivery—otherwise the opportunity for effective aid could easily be lost during the months consumed in new hearings and legislation before delayed delivery.

Ambassador to Moscow

RESIGNATION of Lt. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, a native of Indianapolis, as ambassador to Moscow is no surprise. He has been home on sick leave. Like others who have served long in the Soviet capital he is fed up. His mission to Moscow was a cqmplete failure— through no fault of his or of our government. With a rare combination of good humor and tact with firmness, he made a patient and distinguished effort to get through to the dark Kremlin mind. But the Russian dictators were not interested in fair settlement of their broken bargains or in co-operative relations for peace. Under ordinary circumstances we should be glad that this brilliant soldier is returning to military duties and leaving diplomacy to the diplomats. But in this case we are not so sure, In a dangerous deadlock such as exists in AmericanRussian relations the important thing is not whether our representative is a professional diplomat but that, in addition to outstanding ability, he should have experience in dealing with the Russians. Tho¥e who have dealt with them longest and learned their tricks still have a hard time following the ball. A beginner just hasn't a chance—as some of Gen. Smith's predecessors discovered too late. : Whoever goes to our Moscow embassy, and whoever succeeds Gen. Clay in Berlin, should have had a record of standing up to the Russians.

Harry Made It Cd

ou know what everybody was saying about President Truman a year ago? Well, he made it just the same, Bough nok by election. ak 4 week Mayor Rosaire L. Halls of Auburn, / R ul Me. -appointed Mr. Truman houorary dog catcher of ‘his city.

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DEAR BOSS . . . By Dan Kidney

Debate Cost of

Peace Program

Both Hoosier Senators Challenge Foreign Policy

WASHINGTON, Mar, 26-—Dear Boss: As everyone in Indiana knows, our junior Senator, William EE. (Bil) Jenner, is a fast man on his feet in the nip-and-tuck of Senate debate. He proved that effectively in the pre-war days when he served both as. minority and then majority leader of the Indiana State Senate, Although he was the first World War II veteran to reach the U. 8. Senate, Bill has been rather meticulous in observing the. year of silence rule which is part of the unwritten code of what was once termed ‘the greatest deliberative body in the world.” That year is long gone now and Sen. Jenner is becoming an active participant in the debates. While the senior Senator from the state, Homer E. Capehart;~was preparing a plus-40 page speech on his plan to ¢ut ECA funds in two,” Ben. Jenner was busy on the floor challenging such old-timers as Sens. Tom Connally (Dem, Tex,), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his GOP assistant, Ben. Arthur H. Vandenberg (R. Mich.), minority leader of the committee.

World Peace Goal NEITHER of the Hoosier Republicans 1s on the committee, but that didn't prevent them from speaking out as authorities on the subject. Sen. Connally didn’t seem to think so much of the Jenner questioning and at ‘one point appealed to the chair, “Mr. President,” said the tall Texan, who looks like a sheriff from the Rio Grande, “I should like to continue my remarks if I may. I may say with regard to the interruptions, of course the Foreign Relations Committee and the chairman of the committee want to preserve the peace of the world.” Sen. Vandenberg was just as firm, but more courteous, when he replied to Sen, Jenner's probing. After all both the Indiana Republicans only recently supported his old filibuster ruling against the fair deal ruling of Vice President Barkley.

High Cost Challenged

NET OF the Jenner questioning was whether the United States can afford to carry on as the top-flight world power and assume the definite and costly responsibilities which such a position entails. “What is bothering me,” Sen. Jenner said, “and I am sincere about it-—is the question: How far can 6 per cent of the world’s population, which we are, and 7 per cent of the world’s area, which we are, go on doing all these things for ourselves and for other nations all over the world before we kill the goose that laid the golden egg?” There had been a considerable preamble, with estimated costs of the programs. ECA's new appropriation was $5.8 billion as reported from the ‘Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Capehart sought to reduce it to $3 billion. Replying that he has “the same fundamental feeling” as Sen. Jenner about spending wisely and within safe limitations, Sen. Vandenberg continued— “We must also remember the alternatives when we are undertaking to decide whether we can afford a given commitment. We cannot overlook the fact that if there is ever another world war, it will be aimed at us, willy-nilly, as the ultimate target.

Price of Peace “WE cannot overlook the fact that the price of avoiding the final calamity in the life of civilization cannot even remotely be as great as the price of not preventing it if we can and then paying the consequences, “The best we can do is to take a balanced judgment in the presence of our dilemma.,6 We want peacé above everything else in this world.” Both the Indiana Senators have voted against all world aid (except to Greece and Turkey) and have spoken retrospectively against both world wars. Sometimes it seems as though they are seeking to repeal the present and return to some safer period in American history when neither of them was alive. Sen. Jenner told Sen. Vandenberg that he (Jenner) is seeking peace also, but by a different road.

‘Must Stay Strong’ “I WANT peace, but I think one of the best ways to have peace is to see to it that our nation remains strong,” Sen. Jenner concluded. “I do not believe that we can remain strong when our people—6 per cent of the people of the world—have to dig from the bowels of the earth their natural wealth and ship it to the four corners of the world. “I do not think we can do that. That is where the Senator from Michigan and I differ as to the best way to reach the ultimate end.” There you have it—the new isolationists. Those who saw {it fail before are sorry now that it carries an Indiana brand.

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DISASTER IN CHINA . . . By Marquis Childs

Reveals U. S. Aid Taken by Reds

~~ WASHINGTON, Mar. 26—The Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a closed session the other day heard some hard facts about China. The witness, Maj. Gen. David G. Barr, was just back from stricken China where for a year he had tried to advise Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist generals on the conduct of the war. Through the early months of 1948 his confidential intelligence reports to Washington had foretold of the impending disaster. The advice he gave as head of the joint United States military advisory group was consistently and repeatedly ignored. The incompetence of the Nationalist generals went at times to fantastic lengths. Thus in the defense of Tientsin, Chinese armies were hopelessly divided and the Communist forces took the city with comparatively liftle effort. Most startling was Gen. Barr's statement that an estimated 90 per cent of all American military aid to Nationalist China was taken by the Communist armies. At an earlier press conference he had sald publicly that the Communists had got the “major propertion.” But in -the closed session he spelled it out more specifically.

Sprawling Chaos

A GREAT part of this military material the Communists got without firing a shot. Gen. Barr told the committee, in effect, that no amount of arms from .this country could have saved the Nationalist regime. from disaster. He painted a picture of sprawling chaos and disorder in vast armies from which the will to fight had entirely gone. “The troops had lost confidence in themselves,” Gen. Barr said, “and there was a defeatist attitude throughout the army. That was the reason for the final collapse.” This testimony from a soldier who struggled at first hand with the China dragon goes

What Others Say—

ABILITY and ‘facility to express an idea is almost as important as the idea itself.—Bernard Baruch. B

® © UNTIL 40 a man wants to be good; after 40 he wants to be good for something.—Dr. Arthur Stinhaus, professor of phychology, George Willlams College. . ®* o THE FUTURE of motion pictures, conditioned as it will be by the competition of tele(vision, is going to have no room for the dead- \ wood of the present or the faded glories of the past. It will take brains instead of just money to make pictures.—Sam Goldwyn, Hollywood producer.

against the gospel of those Americans who blame the Roosevelt-Truman administrations for the disaster. Their number, however, is dwindling in the face of indisputable facts that cannot be ignored even by those who want to make political capital out of the tragedy. Confronted with Gen. Barr's realistic analysis, the old China hand reacts immediately by suggesting that he was put up to his testimony by Secretary of State Dean Acheson. Those who know Gen. Barr will resent this as a slur on his conspicuous integrity and independence. It happens that Mr. Acheson did suggest to the committee that Gen. Barr be called to testify. But that was because he had seen the General's intelligence reports detailing his futile struggle as head of a futile mission. Mr, Acheson did not seek in any way to influence what Gen. Barr might tell the Senators.

All Facts Not Given Out

ONE REASON for the controversy over China has been the reluctance of officials to make the facts public. A letter is in preparation in the State Department to be signed by Mr. Acheson which will tell more about the disaster than has yet been disclosed. As now planned, this will be sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and released at the capitol. When the figures are all put together, it is believed they will show the Chinese Nationalist government received more than $2 billion in military and economi¢ aid since V-J Day. In addition, the Chinese were allowed to buy at very low prices another billion dollars in supplies. This, to be sure, is history. Whatever the reasons for the catastrophe, its appalling consequences are all too apparent and no one in the State Department, from Mr. Acheson on down, has any inclination to minimize them. Some tough decisions must be made and almost any answer is sure to be wrong. What to do, for example, about the great port cities, such as Shanghai, which the Communists apparently intend to leave alone at least until after the next harvest

Exist on U. S. Aid

~_THE HUNGRY masses in those cities now exist largely on -American aid. If the aid is cut off, the U. 8. will be accused of opening the way for chaos and communism. If it is continued, the charge will be that this country played the sucker and kept the bird alive until the Red armies were ready to capture it. Undoubtedly the China fallure, and America’'s share of responsibility for it, will come into the debate on ECA and the proposal to lendlease arms to the nations of the Atlantic Pact. Quite apart from partisan politics, there are important lessons to be learned from the calamity.

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‘Hoosier Forum

*|.do not agree with a word that you say, but | will defend to the death your right fo sey H."

Keep letters 200 words or less on any subject with which you are familiar. Some ‘letters used will be edited but content will be preserved, for here the People Speak in Freedom.

Proposes FDR Statue By D. B, Oity We all wore green to honor our Irish friend St. Patrick for driving all the snakes out of Ireland. . But there never has been a word or suggestion about a statue of jour friend, the late Pres{dent Franklin D. Roosevelt, in memory of his keeping the wolf from our door a few.years ago when he took over the burden that was brought on us. You don’t have to be a Democrat to show your appreciation of this, for he fed everyone regardless of politics, even let you work on the WPA. That was the turning point to help save this country, and I think he did a swell job. Lots of us didn’t know where the next meal was coming from. wr I think it would be a little favor in token of his memory to erect a monument or statue of him at the southwest corner of University Park: at Meridian and New York Sts. A very small donation from each and -every one of us would do the trick.

I am surprised that this has never been sug-

gested before. I know we don't forget that quick, or do we? I'm hoping this will be put over and our greatest statesman will sit at the

corner. * oo

‘Too Much Appeasement’ By Edward F. Maddox, City . The Atlantic Pact plainly sets forth the intention of its members to form a defensive alliance for their mutual security from aggression. And this association of nations has been made necessary by the aggressive, unfriendly, unco-operative acts and propaganda of the Communist leaders of the Soviet Union—Stalin, Molotov, Vishinsky & Co. in "Moscow. Furthermore, the western powers should inform Stalin and the world that we rely on God's help, as well as on weapons of war. We have already made too many shameful concessions to the infields in the Kremlin. In order to appease these men who deny God, our leaders consented to refrain from any mention of God, or to open United Nations sessions with prayers. So we face war. For Americans to refrain from prayer or mention of God in the vital business of the nation is a national disgrace. ¢ ¢

‘Stop Time Arguments’ By Jeanne Seymoure ) Twice yearly this Daylight Saving Time question comes up because each faction wants its way. Push this contention out of your mind and work by the hands of the clock. They are

the servant of man, as human hands are. Those -

who have much to do usually get up early; those who have less usually sleep late. Therefore the only time that is essential is when we are dealing with others, namely, churches, schools, stores, railroads, etc. So just go by the hands of your clock regardless if it is CST or DST. This argument ceases to be funny or interesting. ® o¢

‘Maio’s Men on Job’ By Ada White, 3501 N. Sherman Drive Regarding the series of pictures in The Times about street repair work, I am surprised to see that Tony Malo's men have started to work. A few weeks ago there were six men painting a guard rail which any school boy could have painted. Two men sat in the truck, two men stood watching the painters and two men painted. Add those salaries and the upkeep of that large truck. The answer is “Why Tony needs more money, trucks and men.” I'll contribute my service to the city as that rail painter. ® 4 9

‘Fortunate to Get Aid’ By Roy R. Curts, Box 1661 In The Times was an article finding fault with the care of transients at the Wheeler City Rescue Mission. In the United States we are fortunate to have places to care for those of

us who are unable to provide for ourselves.

any longer. Granted that some conditions may not be “first class,” what right have people to expect good things when Satan rules their lives? ® o ©

‘Mail Service Bad’ By A Reader I am not one to complain but our mail service on Pine 8t. is bad. We never know any more what to depend on. When our regular mailman, Cecil Geckler, was on duty we had fine service, but he passed away. Since then it's been bad. Today it was 2:30 p. m. before the new carrier ever made it and then he had the mail all mixed up. ~

SOVIET PROGRAM . . . By William Philip Simms Bear Gun?

Moscow's Plan Seen

WASHINGTON, Mar. 26—Moscow’s answer to the Atlantic Pact is already taking form, according to a competent authority recently arrived from Europe and the Far East. | w Roughly, the Moscow plan is to seize control of all Asia | behind a Furopean smokescreen, then make a grandstand peace play for time in which to consolidate gains and build up the Soviet war machine with atomic, supersonic and other new and

fantastic weapons.

Then—perhaps around 1952-—would come the showdown. 14 The source for this is in an excellent position to learn what | ? is going on behind the international scene. It is his view that events may develop along the following lines Peace in China eventually will fall through. During the

negotiations, however, the Chinese Communists will greatly They will continue to move their best When everything is in readiness, these will cross “China's Mississippi” in at least two places—above

improve tlHeir position. forces south to the Yangtze.

and below Nanking.

Three-Way Move

SHANGHAI will be by-passed—temporarily. One Red column will push westward into Szechwan, China's rich breadbasket. A third will head toward Kunming to establish contact with the Reds of IndoChina, Siam, Malaya, Burma, Indonesia and India. Kal-shek will try to stage a comeback but will fail. Indian leaders are quoted as saying that once the Communists cross the Yangtze, India will face much the same situation that confronted China after the Red conquest of

Another will take the direction of Canton.

Manchuria.

In Africa—not merely North Africa, but throughout the rest of the dark continerrt— Moscow-trained agents are busy and on the increase. Moscow is quite aware that Western Europe cannot forever depend upon -the Americans for its raw materials. Europe must develop new sources of her own and her best bet is Africa. Russia will prevent any such development if she possibly

can,

While these things are taking place, Moscow will try to keep attention focused as much as possible on Europe and the Atlantic,

New Peace Drive

MEANWHILE, Stalin is expected to take the initiative in another peace drive. It would cause no great surprise if he, personally, asked President Truman, Prime Minister Attlee and Premier Queuille to meet with him in Paris, Brussels, London, Stockholm, or some other spot not too-remote from his own

capital,

Falling in this, he might seek to bring about a new Big Four

meeting on the foreign ministers’ level.

- Stalin knows that all mankind is hungry for peace. Already, therefore, Moscow Is maintaining a drumfire of propaganda to convince peace-starved peoples everywhere that while Russia is peace; the United States and the West are bent

érying aloud for on launching World War III

Refusal to meet with Stalin or, at least, atlend a Big Four foreign ministers’ conference to reach a world settlement, would be cited by Russia as “proof” of the West's warlike intentions. Acceptance of Stalin's invitation would gain him time without

commit the Kremlin to anything, he ere fifth columns have taken over Asia, more

ar hs tla 4 | wg | { Bow: { Ci)

.

Chiang

N. Y.).

Morse agrees.

this.

union leaders.

and militarily.

than half the earth's population and much of its raw materials would be under Red domination. play a waiting game while she bullt herself up economically

Russia could well afford to"

Barbs—

. highway.

with all the heels.

whisper, Lo TH |

THREE speeders went into the same ditch on & Michigan And the chances are some pedestrians were lucky. vb . WE wouldn't mind another rubber shortage if it did away

* 0 0 TOO many kind acts that speak for themselves, talk in a

STRIKE PROTECTION . . . By Fred W. Perkins

GOP Labor Strategy

WASHINGTON, Mar. 26—Two middle-of-the-road Republican Senators who may wield powerful influence in writing the new national labor law are getting closer together. Middle-of-the-road in this case means midway or thereabouts between the Taft-Hartley law and the old Wagner Act. The two Senators are Wayne Morse (R. Ore.) and Irving M, Ives (R. Each has a considerable record of dealing with labormanagement problems—Mr. Morse as a member of the War Labor Board and in other capacities, Mr. Ives as a New York state legislator. They agree on the general principles that the right of collective bargaining is basic, but that workers and employers (and the public) must have protection from coercion and from unfair and harmful activities by either workers or employers.

' Protection for Public

SPECIFICALLY, Sen. Ives says the nation must be protected from national-emergency strikes. He favors delaying and cooling-off procedures, with more specific responsibility and authority for the President to act. obligation on Congress to handle unyielding emergencies.

He would leave the final Sen.

Neither believes in use of Federal Court injunctions, but the forces led by Sen. Robert A. Taft (R. 0.), may override them on

Sens. Morse and Ives agree also on preserving sanctity of labor-management contracts, retention of non-Communist oaths and requiring them from employers as well as union officials; supervision of union welfare funds by the Secretary of Labor; requirement of financial reports and Information on their operation from labor unions; maintenance of the federal mediation and conciliation service as an agency independent of the Labor Department or any other; and “free speech” for employers As well as

Differ on Two ltems

THE two Senators differ somewhat on two important ttems. One is the subject of jurisdictional disputes between unions and secondary boycotts, Sen. Ives is against “unwarranted” jurisdictional disputes, but Sen. Morse does not regard them as labor disputes, and would apply compulsory arbitration to them. Sen. Ives is not specific about what secondary boycotts he thinks might be justified. organizational campaigns, but would permit them where preservation of a union is involved. v- ~ There is an apparent Morse-Ives divergence also on the closed-shop question. The New York Senator would permit the closed shop (under which only union members can be hired) but" would prevent “abuses which may occur.” Sen. Morse agrees up’ to that point, but specifies that the employer must not be required by law to bargain on a closed shop; that the afrangement must be Yoluntasy mn the workers, that strikes for the closed shop nets legal, at the union havipg a closed must be completely open to new BD nin PE Sn. ! shop . The Senate group likely to support the ideas of Sens. Morse . and Ives is figured at about 15, large enough to hold of power between members who would keep nearly all of the

Ben. Morse would not allow them in

the balance

/ to the Wagner Act. i

“

SUNDAY, State Po WHOEVE much time al golden opporti almost every Of course, not seeking s take-out from in. It may | combined effo mission and selor are adeq the public Inte Frankly, we things aren't days spent a department o anybody that it's a .24-kar same few day any utility ri you) that if know won't h PSC is the sg world. And he’s bo convinced t _ counselor sho as the man Vv

unfair compe commissioner:

Washingto Prop: West Sharg

Admin Covers

WASHII Europe will § North Atlan But administ Plan pr size called fc existing armie It covers | given, no one’s Plan also ments of thei present Marsh Congressmel we rearm Si France and Ita grand strateg) then they go C easy to answ administration country affects from pact, or nounced. . There's talk terranean and State Departs throw it down sions of defen some time off. ”

Rent Cont HERE'S SC trol by local g Only six sta lative authorit Wisconsin's I and laws in N and Illinois e ginia and Co until 1850: Only 29 ste meeting this y are ready to : ready.

Hunt Iron STEEL CO started lookin in Laborador, and Brazil. tion it’s been Mesabi ore as source of supp sources produ time steel-mal New foreig! be producing before 1954. plies will be fore then. A

how much is ”

Problem «¢ LOOK FOR tough with bi Governmen! lon for air r

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titled to voic President '] Aeronautics Budget Direc ter General I Chairman H | to White Ho last week. one was talk afterward. But CAB ch man Joseph O'Connell m speech 24 ho later — and known he wrote it a

leaving Wh House. Mr. O'Con

said airlines have like bu their decisio normally do’ sure some of economic ma there's ‘“d with fact al going up. Mr. O’'Cor 1949 econom ing drafted, subsidies on that it will from air mai or control [| petitions whi to make up | CAB Com Jones favor: loan to bu equipment, a forced to ope repay it.

; Acts to HERE'S | ministration Labor Chair ing Rules ( vote on T ahead of wa Hé thinks hi on repeal bi ministration Republics this. They chance to ing with » ends o tock Repub

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