1953: United States

A summary of the legislative, judicial, and political events of 1953 in the United States is presented below. Detailed articles on other aspects of the national scene and on the United States in world affairs appear under separate headings.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS — THE YEAR'S EVENTS

Churchill Visit.

In the realm of foreign affairs the year 1953 began with the unprecedented visit of Prime Minister Winston Churchill of England to President-elect Eisenhower. Never before had a British Prime Minister conferred with a U.S. President-elect. In spite of strong objections from some of his countrymen, including some Cabinet ministers, Churchill was intent on restoring the close wartime relationship between British and U.S. Chiefs of States. Although there were no official statements on what was discussed in the six hours of talks between the two men, it was generally agreed that the conversations centered around an exchange of views on such subjects as Anglo-American trade and developments in Korea and Western Europe.

New Policies.

Taiwan.

Shortly after the new Administration was launched, a new and tougher approach was taken toward foreign affairs, especially with regard to the Far East and Europe. It was reported that an order had been issued which would permit the Chinese Nationalist forces on Taiwan to attack the China coast. This order repealed a previous one issued on June 27, 1950 by President Truman, directing the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet to prevent attacks on Taiwan from the mainland and on the mainland from Taiwan. The new order continued the protection for Taiwan but ended it for the mainland.

Europe.

At the same time, Secretary of State Dulles and Mutual Security Administrator Harold Stassen left for a nine-day fact-finding tour of Europe, to determine how much Europe was doing to build its own defenses and how much more she could do. Dulles implied that Europe was confronted with the choice of contributing more toward European integrity and defense or facing the prospect of severe cuts in American aid. These two viewpoints were forcibly expressed by Eisenhower in his State of the Union message early in February.

Ambassador to U.S.S.R.

As his first official act after being sworn in as Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles demanded 'positive loyalty' of all his subordinates to national policies. This seemed to mean the ouster of George F. Kennan as Ambassador to Russia. Kennan had opposed the American government trying to promote the internal disintegration of Soviet power 'as inconsistent with international obligations.' Ultimately Charles Bohlen was appointed to the Moscow post, but not without considerable Senate opposition because of his connection with the Teheran and Yalta Conferences as an interpreter and Russian expert. The Senate finally confirmed him 74 to 13, after debating the matter nearly a week. Senators McCarran and Johnson of Colorado were the only two Democrats who opposed the nomination, but they were joined by 11 Republicans, led by McCarthy, Bricker, Bridges, and Dirksen.

East-West Deadlock.

Late in February the United Nations General Assembly reconvened in New York, and the leading topic for discussion was the Korean problem. The delegates were uncertain as to what course the Eisenhower Administration would pursue, and they were pessimistic with regard to the wisdom of the tougher policy which had been announced by the United States. The American delegate, Henry Cabot Lodge, charged the Soviet Union with planning and instigating the Korean war, and keeping it going with large military supplies. He said the rulers of the Kremlin could stop the war whenever they wanted to, and he saw no reason for the United Nations engaging in new diplomatic efforts to end the war.

A motion by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky to invite North Korea to send a representative to take part in the Korean debate was rejected 36 to 16. It was impossible to break the deadlock between the East and the West, and the Assembly adjourned with the whole Korean question still unchanged.

Missions to U.S.

British.

In March British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and Chancellor of the Exchequer Richard Austin Butler, heading a 31-man British mission to Washington, stressed the importance of economic co-operation between Britain and the United States, especially in the field of foreign trade. Out of the series of meetings with Administration leaders came the understanding that Britain would tighten her restrictions on shipments of strategic goods to China. This removed one of the most dangerous conflicts between British and American Far Eastern policies.

French.

The visit of Eden and Butler was soon followed by the arrival of French Premier Ren‚ Mayer, who was the first head of state to visit the United States since President Eisenhower took office. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Georges Bidault. The mission was to obtain pledges from the United States to help France shoulder her defense burden and to gain sympathy for some of France's European and colonial problems. No firm agreements were arrived at, but a friendly exchange of views made the conference a success.

German.

Dr. Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of the German Republic, also visited Washington, where for three days he carried on conferences with Secretary Dulles and President Eisenhower, which culminated in an agreement that recent developments would not lead the Allies to diminish their efforts to increase unity and common strength. They declared that if the Soviet leaders really wanted peace, then they should permit genuinely free elections in the Soviet Occupation Zone.

Death of Stalin.

On March 6 the Soviet radio announced the death of Joseph Stalin, who was succeeded by Georgi Malenkov. Immediately there was furious speculation, especially in the United States, as to what this sudden change of leadership would mean for international relations and for Russia. After the air began to clear, there were indications that the Soviet Union was putting out some peace feelers, but these were received with considerable suspicion and skepticism by the United States, especially when it was reported that an American plane had been attacked by two Soviet MIG's 25 miles east of the Kamchatka peninsula. The United States sent a stiff note of protest, but it was not clear whether the attacks were provocative or merely warnings to keep clear of Soviet borders. At any rate, such incidents did not better the relations between the two countries.

Soviet Softening.