" America's Choice" Ste,—The two questions raised in the leading
article in the Spectator of November 7th are answered in the title: " America's Choice." I find another answer in the opening lines. I sought for a word, the right word, to be on the side of understatement and yet honest. The word .is supplied in the text: " ungracious." I am afraid it describes the spirit of the article.
,Fora, number of years 1 have been an. unqualified admirer. of the Spectator. It seemed to me that while other periodicals had all editorial policy, the Spectator had a code which transcended personal or party prejudices, which hewed to the line regardless of shoulder chips, which slashed straight through external trappings to the cote of the subject, with intelligent insight, with generosity, with wit and with style. To my mind it reduced other papers to a sophomoric level.
1-4 seek again for understatement, my feeling 'with regard to the November 7th leader was disappointment. It hurt to find lacking that traditional English good sportsmanship which hails the victor with non-partisan cheers. No words in any language can take away -front the grandeur of the .man America has chosen for President, but prais' ing with faint damns comes as a strange tribute from a source which ought to appreciate the measure of gratitude which the free world owes him. Nor can feeble words of mine emphasise his strength• He stands on his own record. Now and then in our past when'a crisis has demanded the coming forth of a great man, "America has bee" able to produce him. We need him now, and he has come. In the dark days of the war we needed a great man to lead us. Britaia produced him. Winston Churchill brought us through. We have never repudiated him. We believe that the man we have chosen cart bring us honour with peace as he brought us victory in war. VV''
believe that he can help to put our awn economic house in order that we may be strong enough to continue our help to Europe.
The article in question suggests that money bought the election of General Eisenhower. That must have been written in haste, informed by momentary disappointment, for the Spectator, upon reflection, would not imply that the American Press and the American voter are for sale. The fact that the powerful labour unions not only sponsored the Democratic candidate but tried to influence their members to vote for him must have been forgotten. The votes which elected General Eisenhower came from high and low, rich and poor, north, east, south and -west. He is America's choice. Both Governor Stevenson and General Eisenhower were humble in the face of the destiny thrust upon them. Neither man could perform the task ahead without the help of the whole free world. None knows it better than the man who has given his pledge to do his best.
Another question, raised in the Spectator, would seem to find its answer in " America's Choice." What will the new administration's attitude be towards N.A.T.O. ? General Eisenhower was the head and heart of N.A.T.O.
In respectful but sorrowful conclusion, one would expect to find Pravda cool to the election of General Eisenhower, but not the