Challenge & Response

An outrage!

The words were President Harry Truman's. He meant the Communist seizure of Hungary (see INTERNATIONAL). It was no ill-considered, uncalculated outburst. The President had had a week to prepare his answer to Russia's challenge of the Truman Doctrine. Warned the President: the U.S. will not stand idly by.

On the Senate floor, Arthur Vandenberg had anticipated the President's anger. Said the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee: "Nowhere have Communists more openly presented a more cynical illustration of their idea of democracy. . . . Nowhere has this violation of the basic freedoms . . . raised more definite implications of Moscow's influence in these unholy events."

Promptly, some Congressmen demanded that Hungary be cut off from the benefits of the $350 million foreign relief loan. Cried House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Charles Eaton: "If Russia takes over the soul of Hungary, let her take over Hungary's alimentary canal at the same time."

The State Department consulted with Britain on a tough note of protest. It would charge Russia with illegal intervention in Hungarian affairs, in violation of the tattered Yalta agreement; demand a full Big Three investigation of Russia's role in Hungary; repeat Vandenberg's threat that the Hungary case might be carried to the U.N.

The afternoon of the President's outburst, the Senate approved its first peace treaties in more than two decades: with Italy by an overwhelming 79-to-10 majority; with Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary by voice vote.

Sensitive Nerve. Before the day was out, George Marshall struck at one of Russia's most sensitive nerves. At Harvard's commencement exercises,* where he accepted an honorary doctorate of laws, the Secretary of State answered the Russian challenge by urging an economically integrated Europe. Europe must get together on its needs. Henceforth, U.S. help would be on a Europe-wide, not a nation-by-nation, basis.

Said Marshall: "Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world. . . . Such assistance must not be on a piecemeal basis as various crises develop.

"Any government that is willing to assist in the task of recovery will find full cooperation on the part of the U.S. . . . Any government which maneuvers to block the recovery of other countries cannot expect help from us. Furthermore, governments, political parties or groups which seek to perpetuate human misery in order to profit therefrom politically or otherwise will encounter the opposition of the U.S."

*Instead of the traditional cap & gown, George Marshall wore a business suit, General Omar Bradley his Army uniform. Explained Harvard's President James B. Conant: "We put no hood on those receiving degrees . . . uniforms and civilian dress are quite usual. . . . Dress is optional."

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