ABSTRACT
Fear that the Administration was contemplating adventurous militarism dominated reactions throughout the Eastern Hemisphere. The Japanese, shocked by Dwight D. Eisenhower decision and recalling his campaign remarks about turning the Korean war over to Syngman Rhee’s soldiers, feared the stimulation of a war of Asians against Asians. Popular opinion seemed unready to push for a rapid change. Dr. Gal-lup’s poll reported in January that 61 percent of the public wanted their continuation. For the new Administration there were other compelling reasons, aside from its economic philosophy. After all, controls were most disliked by the Taft wing of the GOP; their retention would hardly soothe the discontented conservatives. Eisenhower’s course, nevertheless, was a model of caution. As Joe Dodge pointed out, there was the danger of sufficient price rises to increase defense costs, a factor that could very easily negate all the efforts to reduce the budget.
