The Charlotte News

Friday, January 2, 1948

THREE EDITORIALS

Site Ed. Note: We remain reliant for now on The St. Petersburg Times for some of the syndicated columnists, until we are able to obtain The News of these dates, at which point we shall fill in the blanks.

On the editorial page, Drew Pearson, in Rome, tells of some editors being bored with his being nice to people and wanting him to start punching noses again. But he insists on continuing to be nice for the nonce, begins by correcting a misjudgment contained in a previous column in which he stated that General Manton Eddy, head of Army press relations, had been promoted over others merely because of his position. He believes that he had been wrong in so concluding, as General Eddy had developed an excellent combat record, making the promotion appropriate.

He also backtracks on some prior criticism leveled at former Assistant Secretary of State James Dunn, now Ambassador to Italy. He finds Ambassador Dunn to be doing a fine job, working to smooth relations with the current Government in Italy.

He relates of being touched by the sight of the unloading of the first "Friend Ship" in Naples taking place amid bombed ruins and German bomb shelters while schoolchildren crowded around waving U.S. flags and shouting, "Viva America!" Meanwhile, stevedores worked all day Sunday to unload the ship as Italy seemed to be smiling again. The picture made it appear that another war might be prevented by such mutual good will.

The Italian Government had to remain abreast of occurrences within the Politburo, lest it wind up under Soviet domination. It was aware that the Kremlin shifted policy whenever it found one not working. Such had been the case when the Truman Doctrine began supporting Greece. The Soviets then shifted emphasis to Hungary, purging anti-Communists in the freely elected Government, replacing it with its own puppet satrapy.

Then Moscow began focusing on France and Italy, causing strikes. The previous week, after the latter strategy had failed, the emphasis shifted back to Greece and the new Communist "free state" declared in the North by the guerrilla leader, General Vafiades. The Soviets were also beginning to pay attention to Austria again and might attempt to set up a puppet regime there as well.

Happy Ninth Day of Christmas: Nine gnomic nonnies knitting.

In case you were wondering, the Cigar Bowl in Tampa the previous day was won by Missouri Valley over the West Chester (Pa.) State Teachers, 26 to 7.

Framed Edition
[Return to Links
Page by Subject] [Return to Links-Page by Date] [Return to News<i><i><i>--</i></i></i>Framed Edition]
Links-Date -- Links-Subj.