No Time to Hesitate

Ten minutes after the new nation's Caesarean birth last week, Harry Truman recognized the new State of Israel.

Thus the U.S.'s merry-go-round policy on Palestine came to a brief stop. For the moment everyone could get a fixed look at the breathless man on the carousel.

Only last November, anxious for Zionist political support, Harry Truman had plumped for partition, had ordered U.S. delegates to force it through the United Nations. Last March, anxious about Arab threats, he had startled the world by abandoning partition, plumping for trusteeship. The United Nations threw trusteeship out the window. But when the Jews took matters into their own hands, Harry Truman surprised the U.N. again.

The President's move had a kind of rough logic. With the Jews declaring their sovereignty, partition was now a fact. Why should the President not return to his original stand and support it?

The breathtaking speed with which he acted was explainable. Harry Truman had been considering the move ever since it became evident that the Jews had made up their minds to become an independent state. After the Smith-Molotov talks, Washington was determined not to let Moscow beat it to this one. Zionists were planning nationwide celebrations. Candidate Truman was anxious to have his name mentioned in the rejoicing.*

Some 70 hours later Russia joined the U.S. in recognition. This week, still moving at top speed, the U.S. demanded that the Security Council use an international military force, if necessary, to restore peace in Palestine. Russia, again a little bit behind, echoed the idea.

* When would the British act? Said a Briton: "There is no need to hurry. There is no election in this country until 1950."

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