Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-11
Mr.. Dulles Hope

dress TO the American Legion, has taken
a reasonably hopeful view Of the future
He does not know for certain whether
the Soviet Unions 'affable "neW look
represents "a genuine change OF purpose
or whether 1t Is merely maneuver'
designed to bamboozle the free nations
But he feels that 1t may be good devel-
opment that ought not to be rebuffed
unless and until events themselves prove
it to be fraudulent. And in any case, as
\ he sees it, the United States has basic
material and moral assets capable OF
exercising profoundly helpful long term
influence on the worlds search for .
decent and enduring peace.
AS set forth by Mr.. Dulles, these
assets include economic productivity three
times greater than that of Russia with
its much larger population. In addition,
they include the following. CD Formi-
dable armed power to deter aggression
power that we do not propose to reduce
unless we can be sure that others are
doing the same" (2) A partnership ASSOC
citation in the form Of mutual security
alliances with A like-minded nations
throughout the globe-great regional
arrangements that provide the free world
with large and Indispensable measure
OF insurance against the danger OF attack.
And (3) fundamental moral principles
that identify our country Is
utterly dedicated to peace"-with the
remuneration of military force except for
defense and with such policies as helping
other lands to achieve material better
ment in an atmosphere of liberty.
In Mr.. Dulles judgment, assets OF
this sort are things Of very great value.
And he is convinced that they will con-
tinue to play a vital role In promoting
an era of peaceful change in which it
will be possible to reduce and control
the instruments Of death" and In which
international opinion will eventually
compel the Soviet Union to permit Ger
many's reunification and restore inde-
pendence to the captive states OF Eastern
Europe. AS he has put 1t, eff In freedom
we produce bounteously; II we have de-
fensiye power TO deter aggression; II We
ilse our military and economic power in
accordance with high moral principles;
ii We extend the hand of fellowship to
Ill WHO III S1uCSI1ty WVAA0 BAoSP Att oAA~
II we seek peace that win eradicate
injustice, then we can be confident OF
our future" and the world as whole
can look forward to q much better age
an age emancipated from the awful
threat OF war with acknowledgement
weapons.
Certainly, although 1t is based on q
number Of big "ifs," this hope Of Mr..
Dulles makes more sense than the doonis-
day talk Of the Cassandras, who seem to
regard an annihilating Armageddon as
inevitable and who have already pre-
dicted the complete failure OF the impend-
ing Big Four foreign ministers meeting
at Geneva. Actually, despite the pessi-
inists, the fact Is that even though that
meeting may end in deadlock, and even
though later meetings may end the same
way, the world today, Is never before,
feels tremendous compulsion to avoid
about war. And the chances are that 1t
win continue to feel that way, and act
accordingly, as long as man--American
man, Russian man. man everywhere
keeps on realizing that the maintenance
Of peace has become essential to his very
survival.