A Good Start
General Eisenhower has now almost completed his tour of European capitals, and will shortly be returning to Washington to report to the American President and Congress on what he has seen. The main object of his mission has been to discover for himself what the North Atlantic Treaty Powers are doing to prepare their own defence, but a natural if mistaken curiosity has made the people of Europe no less interested in finding out what the General proposes to do to help them. At this stage the only satisfaction the General can offer to such enquirers is provided by his own genial presence. This is a very considerable asset. His function now, as Supreme Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty forces,
will be at least as much diplomatic as military, and his first European excursion in his new role has heightened his already considerable reputation as a diplomat. In each capital he has visited his remarks have been carefully worded, but not platitudinous. He has provided stimulus and encouragement, and the people of Western Europe can do with a good deal of both. Although, when in London, General Eisenhower confessed that he had not begun to frame even the outline of his report to the President, it will presumably be favourable enough to bring him rapidly back to get on with the problems of Europe's defence. His appointment has already achieved a certain degree of centralisation, but integration of the various national forces, without which centralisation is worse than useless, is a much harder problem. Every aspect of defence, from the grandest of strategy to the standardisation of arms and equipment, will have to be reconsidered. It is a formidable task.
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