The Miami Times

BILL LANTAFF A LETTER FROM

Two stories hit the headlines recently and provided much material for discussion and debate in Washington.

The one story, which was undoubtedly the most important, concerned the speech delivered by General MacArthur before National Association of Manufacturers in New York in which he inferred he had a clear and definite solution for ending the Korean war. The General refused to make his plan public but indicated his willingness to reveal it to President-elect Eisenhower.

This brought about two immediate reactions. President-Elect Eisenhower announced his willingness to meet and discuss this plan. At the same time, President Truman virtually demanded the General present this plan to him at once so that if it could lead to ending the Korean war, further casualties could be averted without a day's delay.

The pros and cons to MacArthur's dramatic statement ran the gauntlet from, "a grandstand play to take the spotlight off President-Elect Eisenhower's trip to Korea" to "a sincere desire on the part of the General to end the Korean conflict."

I strongly uphold the General's refusal to make his plan for ending the war public for I do not see any reason for tipping off the Communists. I cannot, however, conscientiously approve of the General's concealing his plan from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President Truman.

If the General has a plan, he should offer it now to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. President Truman and President-Elect Eisenhower, regardless of what differences he might have with these parties. The lives of American boys in Korea - the welfare of this country are far above and more important than party politics, bitter differences or headline hunting. No justification can be given the parents or family of a boy in Korea that submission of this plan is being delayed a month for one of these petty reasons.

The second story given its share of attention in Washington was the testimony, given by John W. Davis, a prominent constitutional lawyer, before a special House Committee investigating tax exempt foundations for possible subversive influence.

Mr. Davis, now an honorary trustee of the Carnegie Endowment, when quizzed about Alger Hiss' election as President of the foundation testified that President-Elect Eisenhower's Secretary of State selection, John Foster Dulles was the first to recommend consideration of Hiss for this job to him. He further revealed that a thorough investigation of Hiss failed to reveal an objection, and that at no time did Hiss, while serving as President, indicate bias toward Russia or its satellites. As one reporter told me, "when we must put our trust, faith and confidence in the new administration as they cope with the tremendous problems facing America, will Senator McCarthy run true to form and vilify and condemn Mr. Dulles for befriending Hiss?"

Sincerely yours,
BILL LANTAFF