THE WEEK

Secretary Dulles’ “Plan” (see editorial below) is, in its present undefined stage, both grossly inadequate and grossly evasive. It says little about how to prevent Communist penetration of the kind presently afflicting Syria—beyond talismanic invocations of foreign aid; and less about what to do in the event the Soviet Union successfully colonizes a Mideast power in such fashion as to preclude the possibility that it would be termed, under the Dulles Plan, an “armed invasion”—and that kind of colonization is distinctively the Soviet mode. In future days Mr. Dulles may spell out his proposal. Perhaps it will reflect a knowledge of the nature and techniques of the enemy.

When the legislature assembles, Rousseau wrote, all power in effect lapses, and the most exalted executive ofiicial ceases to be any more sacrosanct than the humblest citizen. For if there be a general will (Rousseau argues) its expressions come from the legislature, not the bureaucrats; they are there merely to do its bidding. That is the frame of mind in which we should like to see the new Congress go about its work. And by “work” we specifically include the most important contemporary function of legislatures throughout the world: to do nothing— if that is what it takes to keep the army of social engineers, levellers and snoopers at bay. And, joy of joys-when it happens, to undo things that army has done in the past. Our slogan for the Eighty-fifth Congress, in short: No mammoth programs; no honey-moon with the White House; no acquisitions of new functions.

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Secretary Dulles’ “Plan” (see editorial below) is, in its present undefined stage, both grossly inadequate and grossly evasive. It says little about how to prevent Communist penetration of the kind presently afflicting Syria—beyond talismanic invocations of foreign aid; and less about what to do in the event the Soviet Union successfully colonizes a Mideast power in such fashion as to preclude the possibility that it would be termed, under the Dulles Plan, an “armed invasion”—and that kind of colonization is distinctively the Soviet mode. In future days Mr. Dulles may spell out his proposal. Perhaps it will reflect a knowledge of the nature and techniques of the enemy.

When the legislature assembles, Rousseau wrote, all power in effect lapses, and the most exalted executive ofiicial ceases to be any more sacrosanct than the humblest citizen. For if there be a general will (Rousseau argues) its expressions come from the legislature, not the bureaucrats; they are there merely to do its bidding. That is the frame of mind in which we should like to see the new Congress go about its work. And by “work” we specifically include the most important contemporary function of legislatures throughout the world: to do nothing— if that is what it takes to keep the army of social engineers, levellers and snoopers at bay. And, joy of joys-when it happens, to undo things that army has done in the past. Our slogan for the Eighty-fifth Congress, in short: No mammoth programs; no honey-moon with the White House; no acquisitions of new functions.