Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 September 1950 — Page 34

> A SCRIPPS-HOWARD NEWSPAPER

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ROY HOWARD WALTER LECKRONE HENRY W. MANZ 4 Ny. How. Editor Business Manager

"PAGE 34 Thursday, Sept. 21, 1950 PublishSa

Telephone RI wh 8551 Give Light end the People Will Find Their Von Woy

Who's Being Kidded? AMERICAN, British and French foreign ministers have announced that their New York meeting agreed to treat any attack against Berlin or the West German federal republic as an attack upon the United States, Britain and France: : No consultation should have been required to reach that + agreement. ' An aggressor against Berlin or West Germany { obviously would be immediately making war on the American, British and French occupation forces. It would have been more pertinent had the foreign ministers said what would be done in the event of such an attack. Would they order the general they plan to select to lead into battle the collective European defense force which hasn’t yet been created ?

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RUSSIA has 75 divisions under arms. America, Britain and France could not, now or soon, muster 15 divisions to fight the Russians without leaving all other danger areas unprotected.

isters have little more substance. The West German “police force” is to be increased to 30,000 men. It will then have little more than half the strength the East German Communist army had attained a year ago. That Red army now is reported to number 150,000 to 200,000. German steel production will be stepped up as an increased contribution to Western defense. ' Stalin shouldn't object to that. The unprotected industry will be ready to £0 to work for him if he decides to move into the Ruhr.

THE West German republic will be allowed to open a foreign office and handle some of its own foreign affairs. Efforts will be made to relax present controls and improve West German economic conditions. - And steps will be taken : to end the “state of war” with Germany which, in fact, © ended more than five years ago. : This shadow boxing with issues vital to the free world's survival presumably is intended to impress somebody. “It surely won't impress the Russians who see an unarmed world spread invitingly before them. It surely won't impress small nations which want to be on the winning side if there is a third world war.

IT MUST be intended to impress wishful-thinking voters in this country, and particularly in Britain and France, who like to believe that any problem can be solved, without sweat or taxes, by putting brave words on paper. ' But discerning citizens in all countries are likely to regard tbe foreign ministers’ announcement as a confession of bankruptcy by Western statesmanship.

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. Politics. Over Country.

THE House of Commons may have de one e of the most fateful decisions in Britain's history when it approved the Labor government's plan to proceed with nationalization of the steel industry at this critical time. - The plan is a wholly political concession to the leftwing Socialist element which has been dragging its feet against mobilization of Britain's war potential. : The sharp division on the issue in the country was indicated by the vote of 306 to 300.

THE British steel industry has been operating with high efficiency. For the first eight months of this year pro- * duction has been at an all-time high. The industry has been surpassing - government targets for three years in support of Britain’s heroic struggle to balance her economy. Now private management is being repaid for its con"tributions to the national welfare by a kick in the teeth. That is socialism—ever reaching out for more power for power’s sake. Government cannot be expected to do a better job than private management. There is a dangerous probability that political meddling will create chaos in the industry at a time when full production is essential to British rearmament and the world’s hopes for security and peace.

THE seven-man board named to run the nationalized steel mills includes not one prominent figure in the industry. None would accept appointment. Ninety-two of Britain's biggest firms will be taken over by a government ecotporation. But 400 companies producing most of the finished and semi-finished steel products are left in private hands, a situation neither fish nor fowl. The government board will control 68 per cent of the . production of alloy bars, 45 per cent of steel forgings, 49 -per cent of wire, 23 per cent of steel castings, 60 per cent of steel tubes, 22 per cent of iron castings and 5 per cent of bolts and nuts.

IF THE small privately-owned plants left out of the Socialist corral can survive in this confusion, and against ' government competition as well, it will be a miracle. Nationalization of an industry of this kind would be a hazardous adventure under any circtunstances. In the present emergency it seems almost incredibly unwise. This is of vital concern to Americans, for we are riding in the same boat which the British Socialists are rocking.

Brine in Your Eye

Jor those who have reached the stage of craving alcohol ‘a drink of salt water is recommended instead, says a ~ news dispatch, quoting “The Quarterly Journal of Aleohol.” : Not having seen the publication, and only guessing at the taste of a salt-water highball, what we can't figure out rst, tho dry or the a bs

' The Indianapolis Times |

Other “decisions” announced by the three foreign min-

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By George Weller

Need for UN Arms Balance Seen

ROME, Sept. 21—Europeans who last week thought America had won Korea single-handed by the Inchon-Seoul stranglehold are awakening uneasily today to find that the main match is still unfinished. Russia's Pearl Harbor attack gave her the first fall in the southwest corner of the ring and the Americans have now taken their second fall in the center. Hearing Gen. MacArthur ask the United Nations again for more European troops serves as a reminder that in Asia both the great alliance and the final victory are still beyond the horizon, while far nearer than in August. But from the point of view of American policy in Europe, the Asiatic situation is far from dark. Korea, in fact, can be turned to great political advantage in Europe if the

. United States plays its cards slowly and gives

its Allies a chance to do their share. The natural American impulse is to do everything fast: Go overseas fast, go home fast. The same impulse governs American intentions in Korea, where politicians and military are already worrying out loud about crossing the 38th Parallel. But is a gaik war or a slow war cheapest in the end?. , In terms of American advantage in Eu-

rope and the Middle East, the best course in -

Korea may be to make haste slowly.

Alliance Consummated

“THE alliance against the Soviet - Unionwithin the United Nations has now. been created. A quick victory might break it. A victory won mainly by American manpower would leave it untested. Every day the alliance 1s prolonged increases Soviet discomfort at being a pariah. The only effective test of the United Nation's intentions to halt aggression is the number of its members that are prepared to place soldiers in the field to fight where needed. Korea 1s front No. 1. All others are guesswork, but Korea is real. So far the U. 8. has put some 100,000 men into Korea. The other powers have pledged about 32,000 but only the British and Filipinos have reached the scene as infantry. As a test of alliance, Korea 18 still unfinished. At the top of the worldwide ladder of help is. Britain, which though fighting in Malaya and occupying Germany and Austria, has been prompt to promise help and reasonably quick to deliver, At the bottom stands Italy, whose Communist peace campaign has intimidated the De

. Gasper{’ government out of sending even a

token force. The American casualties already outnumber all the European aid in the field so far. To make -the alliance against aggression a real one in military numbers, it is desirable ‘that the total of non-American United Nations forces exceed the American. The unbalance in Korea is too far in favor of the Americans now. The Soviets are given an argument that this is an American, not a United Nations War. For equilibrium in-the-afffahce against aggression it is not desirable that the United

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States have a monopoly of resistance in the Far East, even if it is capable of bearing it. Equilibrium in Europe and Asia must be matched by continued State Department pressure abroad. An indirect American push can be achieved by America arming first those European outfits that are entering the battle for the United Nations in Korea, not those which are going to

- sit in European barracks for a Soviet attack

still unrealized. Nobody denies that Europe today is spilling over with manpower. When the Marshall Plan was launched, at a time when European industrial production already stood at 90 per cent rof prewar, the argument for boosting it far ‘above, with ECA American dollars, was that Europe's population had greatly increased. That increased population today has obligations as well as rights.

Long-Term Advantages

HOLDING present lines in Korea, besides costing less in blood and dollars than an unaided American offensive, has several long-term

+ military advantages over an impetuous Ameri-

can all-or-nothing attack. The Chinese Communists were pinned in a dilemma the moment the United States pledged to defend Formosa. Now that dilemma is more acute,

The-moment the Chinese:Commiunists cross.

the Korean border openly to fight the United Nations army, they become anti-United Nations aggressors. Their chance for a seat in the United Nations vanishes, The Chinese Communists are caught between Korea and Formosa, aware that they may be facing the first real, mobile antagonist they ever met. Russia's efforts to tangle the Chinese Communists in open war with the United States are transparent to Mao Tse-tung as to the rest of the world.

Fear U. S. Impatience

PROLONGING this whole. state of indecision might provoke American public impatience, too, with demands of “bring the boys home.” But such delay will suck the dynamism from the Russian drive, save American blood and dollars, multiply ‘the Russian dilemma, gain time, and correct the disequilibrium of United Nations responsibilities on the European and Asiatic fronts. ’ What Russia and the Chinese Communists would dislike is a tight United Nations sitdown in .Korea, a prolonged alliance against aggression, with the United Nations holding command of the air and able to make amphibfous hit-and-land raids at will along the Korean coast. By holding firm in Korea and broadening the European manpower balance there, the United Nations and America have their first chance to bleed. the bleeder, confront the aggressors with unpalatable military alternatives, and gradually regain control of the initiative.

By Galbraith NEW PICTURE . Senate Probers Bare National Crime Rings

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21—In additional to having broken up one major gambling syndicate in Florida and causing a big group of county officials to be indicted, the Senate committee investigating organized crime in the U. 8. has gotten a new, accurate picture of the nature of criminal activities in the country. The group headed by Sen. Estes Kefauver (D. Tenn.), has

confirmed much of what has been written about the existence of big syndicates which operate on a natron-wide basis. s = = >

THIS confirmation is important because many law enforcing agents have tried to play down the interstate character of these vicious criminal organizations. It has been charged that the use of the words “powerful national syndicates” is just an excuse of local law enforcing officials for not cracking down on local crime conditions. A committee spokesman has this to say about the existence of syndicates: Si 5 “THESE criminal organiza- -: tions have succeeded in mo- - ~. nopolizing certain of the chan- « nels of interstate communica“tions_and commerce by means _of violence, bribery, corruption and intimidation. It is clear,

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‘Acheson Should Quit’ By Rep. Cecil Harden The firing of Louis Johnson as Secretary of Defense was a step in the right direction. But if we are to win in our fight to preserve the world, Dean Acheson should follow Mr. Johnson back into private life, Regardless of one's personal opinion as to _ Acheson's inner beliefs about communism or his association with pro-Communists, thé New Deal Secretary of State no longer commands the respect of the people of the United States. That alone is good and sufficient reason for replacing him in the cabinet. ‘President Truman is with us for another 27 months (barring impeachment, which is an impossibility) and we shall have to do the best ‘we can under his leadership. But Dean Acheson was not elected to a fouryear term. The American people had nothing

to do with his appointment to the Secretaryship

of State. Now that they are demanding his dismissal, the President should heed their call.

THERE was many a heavy heart on the floor of the House of Representatives last week when it was announced that General George C. Marshall would replace Johnson as Defense Secretary. Gen. Marshall is a popular figure here in Washington, as well as throughout the nation. He is a “grand old man” to millions. His career as a military leader gained him the respect of the nation he served so well. But, it was George Marshall who, with the advice and counsel of Dean Acheson, convinced the President that China should be abandoned to the Communists. Marshall, after a year-long study of the Chinese situation, arbitrarily ruled out Chiang-Kai-shek’s Nationalist government of China and made the decision which gave Stalin control over the destinies of 400 million Chinese. And, as Secretary of State, Marshall subscribed to the disastrous Asiatic policies of

A WHILE LONGER .

will defend fo the death your right fe say i."

Dean Acheson. In fact, our Asiatic policies of the past few years are pretty much attributable to Gen. Marshall's service as Secretary of State and his previous ill-fated mission to China. | There is no question as to George Marshall's patriotism, nor is there any question as to his military leadership. To my mind, however, he is the right man, but in the wrong place. His appointment as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff would have been welcome and hs would prove an able and competent chairman around whom the nation could rally.

‘Study on Government’ By a Voter, Indianapolis : I am at a Joss to know Why a study of our government isn't required in our schools froma kindergarten to university. The alarming propositions reached hy the

so-called Communist peace petition should be

an eye opener to many people. The vast number of signatures attributed to fellow travelers and sympathizers would never have been thew if people realized there is nothing alike in the American life and the Communist life. The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and the Bill of Rights should be taught to our very young for the preservation of the world. ®* ¢ 0

IN THE words of Woodrow Wilson, “ne more. vital truth was ever uttered than that freedom and free institutions cannot long be maintained by any people who do not under stand the nature of their own government.” If you think I'm pessimistic about this une ‘informed condition, make a little experiment. Ask any number of people what the Four Freedoms are. This is a state capital, too, one of the 48 cities in this free country where people should be government minded. But even here

_ they won't know the answer.

If government had been taught in all the grades for the last 20 years, we wouldn't have to beg people to vote now. Too many men have given their blood for our freedom to lose it now.

. By Ludwell Denny

British Election Now Probable

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21—A British general election before spring is provable, despite official denials. Last night's parliamentary test showed the Labor Government has enough votes to stay in office a little while longer, but not enough to govern, Prime Minister Attlee’s victory margin of six votes is too thin to support the decisive leadership required by Britain in the midst of world crisis. Nationalization of the steel industry, upon which the Labor Party won its uneasy victory, is not a popular issue. It was part of the platform on which labor won the 1945 election. But last February labor polled only a minority of the popular vote—though a bare majority of Parliament seats. The steel workers don’t want it, and many other unions are indifferent.

Forced to Go Ahead

MR. ATTLEE and the labor leaders-were forced against their judgment by the party's left wing to go ahead with steel nationalization. That was authorized by the past Parliament before the party lost its popular majority. The left wing is anti-preparedness. To hold it in line with his rearmament. program, Mr. Attlee had to give it the steel sop. Steel nationalization will handicap the rearmament effort. Now it is an efficient industry —not even Labor denies that. At best a changeover in control will reduce efficiency temporarily. But the result may be worse than that, because Mr. Attlee has been unable to get any experienced steel men to serve on the new board.

POORER DAYS .

Any slowdown in this basic industry would be reflected in most others. Though the govern= ment on Jan. 1 will take over only about one= fifth of the companies, those are all the dominant ones. Only those producing semi-finished and finished products will remain in private hands.

Widespread Criticism ASIDE from the unpopularity of steel nation alization and public concern over its effect on military security, there has been widespread press criticism of Prime Minister Attlee for dividing the country on this controversial issue when national unity is needed. So the net effect of this move is to weaken the Labor Government, despite its narrow escape when the combined Conservative and Liberal Parties tried to throw it out of office last night. Indeed, this “victory” may prove the direct cause of later defeat. A strong group within the Labor Party figures that its chances of winning a general election would not be as poor this autumn as in the late winter or spring. If that is true, it would have been safer for Mr. Attlee to have lost in Parliament last night and gone to the country in a general election next month.

Delay Is Unlikely

IN ANY event Mr, Attlee is not likely to postpone the election until after the spring budget. Fearing public reaction, he has not presented an autumn budget to take care of rearmament. A budget must reveal severer austerity ahead than he is willing to admit before an election.

. By John W. Love

Global War Would Cut Resources

ONE. OF, THE doleful possibilities in another

world war, is that it would leave us far poorer

in our natural resources, especially in metals. If a war with Russia lasted as long as some "people have said it would, the high-grade iron of the Mesabi range would be cleaned out. We'd likely be exhausted as to zine, lead and bauxite, the last the source of aluminum. Of the reserve other than metals, our petroleum would be greatly reduced in visible supply, our timber would be depleted of more years’ growth than the years the war lasted, and even our best grades of coking coal would suffer severely.

Stocks Kept Secret THE QUANTITIES in the government stock-

piles are not made public, but progress has been -

discouragingly slow. *In‘ a real emergency we'd have to turn quickly to every reserve we had in the ground. Even a short war could mine out the apparent U. 8. supply of manganese, chromium, asbestos and mercury. We have ‘to remember, of course, that new :discovertes-are made, and for reasons of taxation not every suspected .source gets reported.

Copper could” probahly be maintained in its .

present production for 10 years or so, after which, according to Elmer Pehrson of the U. S. Bureau-of Mines, more expensive methods would have to be used. The output went down even during the war, despite subsidies to the marginals. p Congress recently allowed the copper tariff to rise, thus further to deplete our domestic sup-

. By Douglas Larsen

tionship between them which makes it feasible at least occasionally to combine their activities.” ' Perhaps one of the most significant findings of the committee is the way the gangsters . have gotten into legitimate business. Rudolph Halley, the group's chief counsel, says: : os Ld =

“LAWLESS individuals, frequently using - their ‘criminal

various legitimate enterprises, where they use the same tactics of intimidation and monopolization which characterize their criminal activities.” Halley explains in a report that “they have particularly ‘béen, attracted to enterprises in which large amounts of cash are handled or which have had black-market profiteering potentialities, sueh as hotels, restaurants, night clubs, meat

distributorships 4 stall steal | ‘aifeady been

‘times.

IT IS easy to charge that criminal elements use bribery and corruption to buy protection from state, city and county officials. It's another thing to get the facts on it. Sen. Kefauver’s committee has done just that. Here is a typical example of onevof their findings: “Melvin J. Richard, a counciiman of the city of Miami Beach, testified that Phil Short, a lieutenant of the Miami ‘Beach police force, who for“merly had been chief of police, * -admitted to him that he had orders from the city manager to refrain from raiding gambling operations. Mr. Short admitted to Richard that the operations could easily be closed down and that on two ° occasions they had been closed down, but he stated he had been ordered to allow the gambling to stay open.”

»” = » IT IS this kind of thing that the committee is determined to expose in many of the big cities of the country. And the story of the inroads which. criminal influence has made in politics does not stop at the — city level, the committee has found. Specific evidence ‘has

plies. This has to be put down as one of the insanities which capitalism perpetrates someShould copper turn out to be a fatal choke-point, the history of defeat could be written in Marxist terms, although in a manner even a Communist wouldn't have imagined.

Silver as Conductor

SUCH was. the drain on copper that silver was employed in big conductors at Oak Ridge, Tenn., and at the Dow magnesium plant in Maryville, Mich. The greed of the western silver bloc - accidentally accomplished something useful. Nickel ore was largely worked out from the open-pit mine at Sudbury, Ontario, in the last war, but underground mines are coming into production. Though the Russians greatly cut down their shipments of manganese to this country, a little of it still comes from them. It is safe to say that if another cargo arrived, means would be

- found for unloading It regardless of the feel-

ings of - patriotic organizations and dockers’ unions.

Some Domestic Supplies

SMALL domestic sources’ exist. But at least two years would be required to bring American production up to the need, and then we wouldn't know how long it would last. Fortunately, the shipments of foreign metals are holding up. Their higher prices are bringing Diem in.. They help rectify the balance of trade to get more.dollars to free foreign nations.

Further, ing is evidence. linking Washington officials in the syndicates. However, the committee is particularly silent about this spect o the case.

THE significance of the sure prisingly effective job the com= mittee has done in the first few months of its existence is that it has found a method of investigation which produces results. And the fact that it is a congressional body, with the power of subpoena and the authority to look into any suspicious activity of underworld characters, regardless of whether that activity is cov-. ered by federal legislation, has made it strong enough to cope “with the powerful syndicate bosses. - _

Barbs— THE trouble is, people who

lose their tempers shortly find them—only to lose them again,

VACATION tip: Pay your bills before you go and let your mind really have a rest.

_JOWA is a place where the we hear there's some. . in Washington.

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