AMERICA'S DEFENCE IS IN TWO OCEANS, NOT EUROPE

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 December 1950, Page 5

AMERICA'S DEFENCE IS IN TWO OCEANS, NOT EUROPE

Views Of Past President Hoover

NEW YORK, December!- 20 (Reed. 6 p.m.).—America’s defence lines must be the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, not the continents of Europe or Asia, said Mr Herbert Hoover, former Republican President in a nationwide broadcast tonight.

He added: “Any attempt to make war on the Communist mass by a land invasion through the quicksands of China, India or western Europe, would be sheer, folly. That would be the graveyard of millions of American boys and would end in the exhaustion of this Gibraltar of Western civilisation. “I devoutly hope the maximum of co-operation can be established between the British Commonwealth and ourselves." Mr. Hoover declared that the prime responsibility for defending Western continental Europe rested upon the nations of Europe. “Western Europe, to warrant further aid, must express itself in organised equipped combat divisions of such huge numbers as would erect a sure dam against the Red flood, and that before we land another man or another dollar on their shores,” he said; “otherwise we shall be inviting another Korea. That would be a calamity to Europe as well as to us." Mr. Hoover said the United Nations had been defeated in Korea by the aggression of Communist China, and there were no world forces adequate to repel the Chinese. He added that even if Western Europe, armed beyond anything contemplated, “we could never reach Moscow,” but neither could the Communist armies reach Washington in force. Mr. Hoover said that he spoke in response to hundreds of requests that he appraise the current situation. The former president listed what the described as “certain principles and action” he said. “(1) Foundation of our national policies must be to preserve for the world this Western hemisphere the Gibraltar of Western civllsation. "(2) We can—without any measure of doubt—with our own air and naval forces —hold the Atlantic and Pacific oceans with one frontier on Britain (if she wishes to cooperate) and the other on Japan, Formosa and the Philippines. (3) “To do this we should arm our air and naval forces to the teeth. We should give Japan her Independence, aid her in arms to defend herself. We should stiffen the defences of our

Pacific frontier in Formosa and the Philippines. We can protect this island chain by our sea and air power. “(4) We could, after initial outlays for more air and navy equipment, greatly reduce our expenditures, balance our budget, free ourselves from the dangers of inflation and economic degeneration. “(5) If we toil and sacrifice, as the President has asked, we can continue to give aid to the hungry of the world. We can, out of our productivity, give aid to other nations when they have displayed a spirit and strength in defence against Communism. “(6) We should have none of appeasement. We can retrieve a battle, but we cannot retrieve an appeasement. We are grateful that President Truman has denounced such a course. “(7) We are not blind to the need to preserve Western civilisation on the continent of Europe, or to our cultural religious ties to it, but the prime obligation , of the defence of Western continental Europe rests upon the nations of Europe. The test is whether they have the spiritual force, will and acceptance of unity among them of their own volition. America cannot create their spiritual forces and we cannot buy them with money.” The importance of Mr Hoover’s speech during the current military and economic mobilisation of the United States derives from his leadership of a small but powerful section of Conservatives in the Republican Party. Administration officials have been alarmed in recent weeks by a revival of isolationist declarations by some important public figures. Congress split sharply tonight on Mr. Hoover’s speech. Mr. Robert Taft (Republican, Ohio) said: “Mr Hoover presents very fcrcefully a point of view which certainly should have the immediate consideration of Congress. I do not agree with Mr. Hoover that the defence line can be the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. I believe we must continue to assist in strengthening our friends and Allies in Europe and other parts of the world.”

Senator Herbert Lehman (Democrat, New York) said Mr. Hoover s speech was a plea for a return of complete isolationism.