Milford chronicle., 1955-08-12
AVOID EXCESSIVE OPTIMISM


On many occasions in the months. pre-
ceding the summit conference of chiefs of
state, President Eisenhower and other top
men in the government. warned against the
disease of excessive optimism. In a speech
made just before boarding his plane for the
Geneva meeting, the President stressed still
another point. He said that too much stress
had been laid on details-that is, on obtain
ing specific agreements covering this prob
lem or that. The big goal at the present
time, he went on, should be to improve the
international atmosphere to the extent that
the way will be open to take steps, however
slow and halting, in the direction of a per-
manent peace.
In his report to the nation made on his
return from Geneva, the President again
warned against too much optimism. But, it
seems clear, he does believe that the atmos-
phere between the great powers is better
than it was. Now, in his view, we will need
"prayerful patience and hard work ii we
are to keep alive the spark ignited at Ge-
neva."
To some the spark may seem frail. The
chiefs of state reached agreement on no Is
sue--and on the main issue, German unity,
the deadlock between East and West was
absolute But the Soviet leaders were willing
to talk about German unifcation, even though
their terms were unacceptable to us, and to
express desire to keep on talking and bar
gaining in search of solution. That, in it
self, was great change from the past.
The overall issue, of course, has not
changedzit is coexistence. All Marxist-
feminist teachings say that coexistence be-
tween communism and capitalism is but tenn
porary, and that In the end one or the other
must be destroyed and the whole world won
by the victor. Stain held to this too, for all
his occasional reassuring words. These new
rulers of Russia however, profess a differ
ent attltude--a sort of "new look" In the
Communist philosophy. They say, in effect
that there is no reason why the two systems
cannot keep on existing together-that the
world is big enough for both.
1t would be the height of folly to take
this at face value. 1t is certainly true that
the Communist leaders would like nothing
better than to have the free world lulled into
oompacency and weakness. Yet it is con-
ceivable that they wish to avoid major war
in this age of the hydrogen bomb. And all
the evidence indicates that they sorely need
the most precious of all elements, time-time
to solve political and economic problems
which are grave trouble-spots inside the
whole Communist empire.
A high note is found in the manner Pres
ident Eisenhower seized the initiative at
Geneva His international prestige and in
fluence was vastly enhanced, if European
commentators are to. be believed. A French
newspaper said that he is the equal of
Churchill as force and a personality, which
is the highest of praise He reached peak of
drama in the proposal that a disarmament
plan be based on a reciprocal inspection sys-
tenn, under which the Russians could freely
look over all our factories and installations,
taking all the pictures and notes they want,
and we could do the same thing inside Rus
sia.
Only time can tell how much or how little
was attained at Geneva. Meanwhile, most
seem to feel that our current policy should
be one that was laid down long ago by The
odore Roosevelt, in phrase that has become
a classic: Speak softly and carry big
STICK
BLESSED SOLITUDE
A Denver psychiatrist, DIR. Bradford
Murphey, spoke out recently against exclu-
sive use of group activities to combat juve-
nile delinquency. He said that it is neces-
sary to find a compromise between the need
for group activity and the need of the young
to have an opportunity for "reverie and sol
itude"
DR.. Murphey seems to be on solid ground
and his words can be valid in the field of
adult as well as juvenile behavior. Men must
have contact with their fellows, must have a
feeling of belonging TO groups. But all of us
have another need-for the inner peace that
can come from being by oneself occasionally
Many of the worlds greatest achieve
ments have come from men who enjoyed and
employed their opportunities for solitude
Some people find this opportunity by leaving
the city behind for a time on vacations
others simply close the door of ROOM