Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-13
On War and Peace

AT MS laCeSC news conference, In way
that should reassure the entire world,
President Eisenhower has spoken out elo-
quently and unequivocally to reafflrm that
the United States still stands where it has
always stood in relation to the great prob
lens OF war and peace.
From time to time In recent months,
certain Americans have been rather loudly
proclaiming that our country should az
sever diplomatic relations with the Soviet
Union and (2) either quit the United Ma
tons or arrange to have that world organi-
cation become an anti-C Communist coalition.
Further than that. these fellow citizens Of
OurS-Some Of them distinguished, but
none in positions of deciSion-making re-
sponsibility- been implicitly and explic-
lily advocating the idea that all our human
and material resources should be modified
forthwith for unleaShing preventive war"
against the Red totalitarians.
Generally speaking, many Of our friends
abroad have taken an exaggerated view of
all this, overlooking the fact that 1t repre-
sents the opinion Of only small minority.
AS result, because Of the failure to dis
tinguiSh between it and the actual policy
OF our Government or the sentiment Of the
overwhelming majority Of Americans, there
is too-widespread impression in the world
that Moscow's propagandists may be right
when they accuse the United States not
only of "hysteria" but also of deliberate
plot in its ruling circles" to launch an all
out "imperialistic" war. Accordingly, from
the standpoint of eliminating unjustihed
fear and Misrepresentation overseas, moth
ing could seem more timely than what the
President has just had to say on the subject.
For he has made it abundantly clear,
without any "ifs," "buts" or "maybeS," that
our Understanding minority speaks only
for itself, not for America, and that our
country today remains basically what it has
been in all it's yesterdays-a country dedi-
Gated in principle and practice, historically,
additionally, morally, to the task Of pro-
noting decent peace for itself and the
rest Of the world. That is why, as he has
said, Severing relations with Russia could not
now possibly serve our best interests. That
is why the u NJ far from being abandoned
by us, must continue to have our Arm sup
port, with the end in view of settling diff
ferences through negotiation. And that is
why, above all, a so-called preventive war"
launched by the United States would be
completely unthinkable-a act of madness
beyond justification.
The President has been particularly
emphatic on this last point. AS he has put
it. wholly apart from the vast amorality of
the idea, wholly apart from the fact that its
adoption would make our country pariah
without real friends or allies anywhere
advocacy of preventive war" smilitarily
ridiculous in this day and time, in this
acknowledgement age, when the unleaShing
OF such superdeadly enterprise, instead
OF averting cataclysm, would automati-
cally precipitate one on our own cities as well
as the enemy's. The Presidents unquali-
fed remarks on that score should help to
remove all doubt abroad that America-now
as ever-wants peace and will strike out
only in self-defense or to protect its vital
interests against aggression.
Actually, in the Presidents Judgment,
despite the saber-rattlers, the outlook for
peace has improved and the free world, If
it makes proper use of its brains and
wealth, and If it is patient in non appease-
ing negotiations, has good chance to
build up political, economic and military
structure that will really be impervious to
the Communist assault" Perhaps he is over
optimistic in believing that there will be no
war If work goes forward along that line,
but his views certainly ring with far more
sense than most of those voiced by the
extremists.