• A lot of us, reading certain news stories about Secretary Dulles’ press conference last week, suffered an initial shock, accompanied by the flash behind the eyes that occurs when we are sandbagged. Mr. Dulles, the stories clearly implied, was retreating from his China stand. There were some direct quotes, rather artfully excerpted and slanted, to point up that impression. Then we read the State Department’s official text of the newsmen’s questions and the Secretary’s answers. The discrepancy between the slanted news stories and Mr. Dulles’ position, as it emerges from the official text, is about as wide as the Formosa Strait. Mr. Dulles handled himself adroitly at his news conference. He answered leading (even entrapping) questions, patiently, simply, clearly. And he did not retreat. What he did succeed in doing was to put himself, publicly and clearly, in a position which leaves him free to move as reality necessitates, free to maneuver flexibly at need, and to take advantage quickly of such freedom in dealing with the Communists. His is a stance firm-centered in order to be free-swinging; for, in the nature of maneuver, it cannot nail itself down in advance. But, as of this writing, in our opinion, Mr. Dulles Has Not Given Ground.
• In November there will be the first electoral test of a new adjunct to the spreading right-to-work campaign: “freedom to hire.” The voters of Arkansas will decide whether to adopt a measure designed to prevent featherbedding, that cynical abuse of labor’s organized power that so blatantly conflicts with technical progress, economic health, and the moral dignity that attaches to honest work. The proposed bill would authorize the state courts to issue injunctions to block any coercion of employers to hire unneeded employees. It is hardly necessary to add that the measure is being bitterly fought by the union bosses.
Comments