Creeping Flexibility

Editorially, the Washington Post (and Times Herald) stands to the left of Dean Gooderham Acheson. Recently the Post took Acheson to task for his criticism of George Kennan’s views on disengagement. Acheson, complained the Post, seemed to be just as inflexible as Dulles. What the Post wants is flexibility—the more the better. Its two current favorites are Kennan, of course, and more particularly Childe Harold Stassen. Their virtue is flexibility.

The Post, Kennan, and Stassen agree that inasmuch as the Soviets are not yet prepared to make concessions, we must start the ball rolling. Include the Poles and Czechs in the conference which must be held, so that the Communist states won’t get the idea we are ganging up on them. Then give the Communist states ironclad agreements that we will defend them against aggression (presumably German), and accept the Rapacki Plan with minor reservations. Meanwhile we must take steps to reduce our military strength, to break the log jam of disarmament.

AB

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Anthony T. Bouscaren

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Editorially, the Washington Post (and Times Herald) stands to the left of Dean Gooderham Acheson. Recently the Post took Acheson to task for his criticism of George Kennan’s views on disengagement. Acheson, complained the Post, seemed to be just as inflexible as Dulles. What the Post wants is flexibility—the more the better. Its two current favorites are Kennan, of course, and more particularly Childe Harold Stassen. Their virtue is flexibility.

The Post, Kennan, and Stassen agree that inasmuch as the Soviets are not yet prepared to make concessions, we must start the ball rolling. Include the Poles and Czechs in the conference which must be held, so that the Communist states won’t get the idea we are ganging up on them. Then give the Communist states ironclad agreements that we will defend them against aggression (presumably German), and accept the Rapacki Plan with minor reservations. Meanwhile we must take steps to reduce our military strength, to break the log jam of disarmament.