Stassen Stumbles

With all the finesse of a lucky Bridge player, Harold E. Stassen has captured needed prestige for the United States in the contest for free Asia's support. Acting as Foreign Operations administrator, he promised the American dollars originally scheduled for the Indo-China campaign to members of the Columbo mutual assistance pact. These nations were meeting in Canada to appraise the Columbo plan's ability to resist Communism in the underdeveloped countries of Southern Asia. Unfortunately, Stassen behaved like the amatcur card player, forgetting that he is not in the diplomatic game alone, and that the government is a partner easily displeased by crratic behavior.

The irritated Congressmen and State department officials are not criticizing Stassen's idea for increased Asiatic aid on its own merit. They recognize that nearly 5,000 experts have been trained since the Columbo's formation in 1950. Without the skills of these new technicians the recent agricultural and industrial progress would have been impossible. Likewise, there is little objection to Stassen's argument that Asia needs the money diverted from the Indo-China crisis more than Europe does. And now that Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines have joined the plan, U.S 'help is especially necessary for the Columbo programs.

Stassen's mistake was in ignoring his own department and Congress when he decided to shift the extra funds. Bewildered Foreign Operation Administration officials wondered if Stassen thought their counsel was unneeded. An even greater failure was the lack of cooperation with Congress. Here it is not just a question of hurt feelings; Congressional approval is required before military funds are transferred to Columbo plan members.

Congress fears the power of men like Stassen, and in the past has paralyzed foreign policies simply to show its independence. In acting alone, Stassen unwittingly bolstered the arguments of Congressmen who want to place further legislative controls over the executive department. Government leaders now recognize that diplomacy cannot depend on the efforts of a single man. But Stassen's action serves as a poor example in the attempt to win a unified executive and legislative front for foreign affairs.