Evening star., 1954-06-01
Unified Germany
Rejected by Reds

S~e~NSeS@@S
many were nullified by Soviet
demands for a satellite climate
in that country. With respect
to Austria. the United States,
Great Britain and France
agreed to accept state treaty
terms which up to that time
had been acceptable to the
Soviet Union. But once this
acceptance was announced,
the Soviet Union Immediately
invented new conditions which
would enable it, for an in
definite period, to retain its
occupation of Austria.
To such a plan we could
not agree. Far better, this ad-
ministration believed, that we
end discussion with the issue
still unresolyed than to COM
promise a principle or to ac-
cept an agreement whose price
might be exacted in blood
years hence.
In our effort to find the
ways by which the miracu-
lous inventiveness of man
should not be dedicated to his
death, but consecrated to his
life, there have been written
exchanges of views between
the United States and the
Soviet Union. Secretary of
State Dulles has personally
conferred both at Berlin and
at Geneva with the Soviet
Foreign Minister, Mr.. Molotov.
These have not been produc-
tive of the results we seek, but
we, on our side, are continu-
ing exchanges of views and
consultations with the other
free nations principally in
volved.
We intend to proceed with
these and all other like nego-
tiations, confident in the mer-
its of our cause, realistic in
our appraisal of Soviet inten-
ton, and assured that our
purposes and hopes will sur
vive even the most fruStrat-
ing Series of talks.
To be successful, our peace
full purposes and hopes must
of course be clad in obvious
truth and constantly pro-
claimed to the world. Our
actions must stand eXamina-
ton by every eye-friendly
and hostile and doubtful. We
must be fortnight and patient
in presenting them. Scarcely
could we devise, for the cause
of peace, a more fitting battle
cry than the theme of the
Columbia bi-cent t en- nial:
MANS right to knowledge and
the free use thereof"
Let us not, however, define
truth or knowledge of the
truth solely in the narrow
terms of mere fact or statis-
tic or mathematical equation.
Wisdom and human UNDER
standing-a sense Of propor-
tion-are essential. Knowl.
edge can give us nuclear fis-
sion; only wisdom and UNDER
standing can assure its appli-
cation to human betterment
rather than to human de-
struction.
In this light, the Columbia
theme is a dynamic idea, a
true offspring of the revolu-
tionary doctrine proclaimed by
our forefathers. We should
preach it-and practice it
fearlessly.
Here, tonight, in this bril-
liant company and pleasant
surroundings, we might easily
take for granted. as assured
through all time, the pres
ervation and the free use Of
knowledge. Two hundred
years of Columbia history and
the existence of thousands Of
other institutions of learning
in our country seem to give
validity to such assurance. But
can we be sure that possess
sion of these values even by
ourselves is as indeStructible
as it is priceless? The bleak
history of a dozen nations in
sistently warns us differently.
The most confident predic-
ton Of my boyhood was that,
within the lifetime of my gen.
Grafton, the principles of our
free society would be univers-
ally accepted around the earth.
as rapidly as men could be
given knowledge of them and
opportunity to apply them.
There was certainly some
logic and reason for confidence
in such a prediction. Free
dom, since the dawn OF time,
has been a hunger, God-set
in the hearts of men. Always
and everywhere, even though
they may have never expe-
rienced it-even though they
know it's values only in their
instincts rather than in their
minds-men have sought per-
sonal liberty; have fought for
it; have died for 1t.
Nevertheless, within the past
few decades, the whole philos-
ophy of our founding fathers
has been rejected by powerful
men who control great areas Of
our planet. The revolutionary
doctrines Of our free society
are not practiced throughout
the civilized world. Rather. we
have too often seen the coun-
ter-attacks of fasciSm and Of
communism substitute for
them the police state, with
suppression of all liberties and
free inquiry. We have too often
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