Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-22

points Of view. We must accept
the right of each nation to choose
its own path to the future.
All of these countries are
faced with immense obstacles
and difficulties. Freedom and
human dignity must rest upon
a satisfactory economic base. Yet
in many of these new nations.
incomes average less than 500
per year. AFFECT poverty blinds
mems eyes to the beauty Of
freedoms ideals. Hopelessness
makes men prey to any promise
of a better existence. even the
most false and spurious.
Oftimes the peoples of these
countries expected independence
itself to produce rapid material
progress. Their political leaders
are therefore under heavy pres
sure to find shortcuts and
quick answers to the problems
facing them.
Under these conditions, we
cannot expect that the vision of
a free society will go unchal-
Ilenged. The Communists. aware
OF unsatiSf1ed desires for better
conditions of life, falsely pretend
they can rapidly solve the prob
lens of economic development
and industrialization. They hold
up the Soviet Union as a model
and a guide. But the Commu-
Inists conceal the terrible human
costs that characterize their
ruthless system of dictatorship
and forced labor.
Our Vital Interest
We have a vital interest in
assuring that newly independent
nations preserve and consolidate
the free institutions of their
choice.
The prospects for peace are
brightest when enlightened self
governing peoples control the
policy of nations. Peoples do not
want war. Rulers beyond the
reach of popular control are
more likely to engage in reck-
less adventures and to raise the
grim threat of war. The spread
of freedom enhances the pros
pect for durable peace.
That prospect would be
dimmed or destroyed should
freedom be forced into steady
retreat Then the remaining
free societies, our own among
them. would one day find them
selves beleaguered and imperiled.
We would face once again the
dread prospect of paying dearly
in blood for our own survival.
In every corner of the globe,
it is far less costly to sustain
freedom than to recover it when
lost.
Moreover. our own well-being
is bound up in the Well-being of
other free nations. We cannot
prosper in peace if we are iso-
lated from the rest of the world.
If our economy is to continue to
flourish and grow, our Nation
will need more trade. not less.
The steady growth of other ma
tons, especially the less devel-
oped countries, will create new
and growing demands for goods
and services. 1t will produce an
environment which will bene-
At both them and us.
All Have a Stake
Indeed, Atlanta, Pittsburgh.
Seattle - every American town
and farm-has a stake in the
success or failure of these new
'nations-a stake almost impos-
sible to eXaggerate.
If these new nations are to
achieve economic progress with
freedom. they will have to pro-
vide many of the necessary in
gradients for themselves.
Only these peoples and their
leaders can supply the initiative
and determination essential for
success. And they must mobilize
the larger part Of the resources
they require.
But these nations are gravely
lacking in trained men for man.
agement, production. education
and the professions. Their insti-
buttons for. such training are
limited. Hence they are handi-
capped in trying to extend mod
ern techniques to agriculture,
industry and other fields.
They also face shortages of
capital and foreign exchange.
even though they strain to mobi-
lie their own resources. Private
foreign investment should be
utilized as much as feasible; but
for many areas. it will clearly
fall far short of the require
ments. Moreover their task Of
improving conditions of life is
made the more difficult by their
large and steadily increasing
populations.
Inevitably these nations must
look abroad for assistance. as
our did for so many years. They
want help, first OF all, in real
and enduring friendship. They
want help in training skilled
people and in securing invest
ment capital to supplement their
own resources. For such help
they will look to us as the most
prosperous and advanced econ
omy of the world.
Foresight will compel an
understanding response from us.
In our own enlightened interest
we can and must do much to
help others in pursuit of their
Legitimate aspirations.
Further. we must recognize
that economic and technical as
Isistance cannot be a transitory
policy. The problems Of eco
nomic progress are not to be
solved in a single squirt. Our eff
forts must be sustained over a
number of years.
Long Range Aid Asked
To do the most good. some part
Iof our material help will have
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