Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-25


Today a militant, aggressive
communiStic doctrine is DOM
inant over much Of the worlds
surface and over hundreds Of
millions of the worlds people.
In the postwar period we have
seen it indulge in a particularly
cynical type of colonialism, ex-
pressed in the Communist sub
jugation of once free and proud
nations in Europe and in Asia.
simultaneously. in the free
areas Of the world, six hundred
million people in more than a
score of new countries have
achieved independence.
Communism denies the spir-
itual premises on which your
education has been based. Ac-
cording to that doctrine. there
is no God; there is no soul in
man; there is no reward beyond
the satisfaction of daily needs.
Consequently. toward the human
being, communism is creul. in
tolerant, atheistic. This doctrine,
committed to conquest by lure,
intimidation and force, seeks to
destroy the political concepts
and institutions that we hold to
be dearer than life itself. Thus
communism poses a threat from
which even this mighty Nation
is not wholly immune.
Communism a Failure
Yet communism is, in deepest
sense, a gigantic failure.
Even in the countries it domi-
mates, hundreds of millions who
dwell there still cling to their
religious faith, still are moved
by aspirations for justice and
freedom that cannot be answered
merely by more steel and bigger
bomberS, still seek reward that
is beyond money or place or
power, still dream of the day
that they walk fearleSSly in the
fullness of human freedom.
The destiny of man is freedom
and justice under his Creator
Any theology that denies this
universal faith will ultimately
perish or be recast. This is the
first great truth. that must I'M
derlie all our thinking. all our
striving in this struggling world.
A second truth is that the fun
damental principles of human
liberty and free government are
powerful sources of human en-
ergy, loyalty, dedication - and
guides to enduring success. They
are mightier than ornaments
and armies. :.
The third great truth that
must underlie our thinking on
international questions is this:
People are what count. A SYM
pathetic understanding of the
aspirations, the hopes and fears,
the traditions and prides of other
peoples and nations, is essential
to the promotion of mutual pros
perity and peace. Such under
standing is a compulsory re-
quirement on each of us if, as a
people, We are to discharge our
unacceptable national responsible
ity to lead the world in the
growth of freedom and human
dignity.
A Third Force Cited
Communism seeks to dominate
or to destroy: freedom seeks to
cooperate and to help others to
build. But these basic differences
are not Self-evident. Therefore,
the people Of the world are not
necessarily thinking in terms of
opposing concepts OF communistic
dictatorship and of human rights
and freedom.
Rather, today. the most I'M
yielding expression of peoples
aspirations seems to be an in
tense nationalism. There is
nothing to be feared in this-of
itself. The right of a people,
capable of self-government. to
their own political institutions is
deeply imbedded in American
thinking. Among peoples as
among our own citizens we be-
lieve the rights of the weak are
identical with those of the strong,
And, in the past we have helped
many small nations to independ-
ence. We will continue to hail
with satisfaction the birth of
each new nation whose people,
achieving independence and free
dom. become peaceful members
of the world community.
In this day. however. one acute
economic problem grows more
acute as each new nation steps
forward to an independent place
in the international family.
New nations. springing up. create
new political boundaries. Far
too often these political boun-
daries become serious barriers to
the flow Of trade.
Trade Barriers Important
Such barriers are daily of
more Importance as increasing
industrialization and Specialize
ton critically increase the eco
nomic interdependence of peo-
Piles. Specialization in any area
which implies an unbalanced
local economy-is not neceS-
sarily a weakness. provided al
ways that there is free oppor-
tunity for exchanging a portion
OF the products of such special
ization for the other things
needed to satisfy the require