Evening star., 1957-12-23
Plea for Open Mind

press comment. I note Q
tendency TO be impressed by
and somewhat In sympathy
with Communist proposals
for negotiating q peaceful
coexistence between East and
West.
I prefer TO think. however.
that because OF past and
present Soviet actions and
deeds It is In the best inter-
est Of our country's welfare
TO first reinforce our position
of strength and then reap
praise this not yet under
stood new phenomenon OF So
Wet power and strength be-
fore showing any enthusiasm
for their suggestions for es-
tablishing peace.
The idea Of peaceful CO.
existence among nations GER
tainly merits our considera-
tion. but II we were to accept
II on the terms Of commu-
nism. which is promoting the
idea, then we must acknowl-
edge the lost cause Of democ-
racy. II We enter into 1t on
terms considered equal by
both sides, then forever after
free men would be haunted
by an eager. menacing threat
OF communism Just waiting
for the slightest opportunity
TO perpetrate further en-
croachments into any falter-
ing part Of democracy.
Can We put faith in Com
munist promises when Q year
after the Hungarian revolu-
ton they still continue to
execute the same people who
once believed In the same
things your newspaper Is
supposed to-justice. liberty
and the dignity Of man? Are
we justified in jeopardizing
our way Of life. our very
existence. in an arrangement
with q system that has no
concrete proof to offer Of its
sincerity for upholding any
agreements for peace? We
might coexist with the Soviet
people with whom we have
no quarrel. but not with the
Communist Party, for then
It would become q question Of
the bad apples rotting the
good ones. or the good ones
making good apples out Of
the bad ones. Somehow ]
don't believe our scientific or
political prowess is sufficient
yet TO make good apples out
Of bad ones.
Now is the time TO speak
UP on behalf Of democ-
racy, else we may be on the
way to losing forever the
meaning and identity Of free
dom as We know 1t today.
c. w. Edwards.
The present blab about
peaceful coexistence" Is
Lenin's ideas in action. Lenin
said: "As long as capitalism
and socialism exist. We can
not live in peace: in the end.
one or the other will triumph
"a funeral dirge will be sung
either over the Soviet Re-
public or over world capital
ism. This Is q respite in war.
:. From the point Of view
OF the danger OF a collision
between capitalism and boil
shevism, 1t must be said that
concessions are a continual
ton Of the war. but in q diff
ferent sphere. Every step
Of the enemy will have to be
watched. Every means of
administration, surveillance.
influence and authority will
be required. And this is
war.
Let's be grateful the ad-
ministration is keeping It's
perspective and has started
treating our allies as respon-
sible adults who have certain
obligations. instead Of like
they we're q bunch OF chill
dren or seniles to be PAM
pered and catered TO.
Ruth GLAND.
Ak
In behalf OF a group that
does not want to see Amer
lea subverted into a false
peace and laid open to q
fatal, surprise attack by So
Wet Russia / wish TO make
this protest TO The Star. For
a full century the people of
Washington. solid American
citizens. have relied conf
IDENTIFY on the editorial guild
ance OF The Star. II was.
Wherefore, n distinct shock to
read on December o. on De-
cember II, December Is. and
again on December 10 edi-
torials advocating talks with
Soviet Russia. which very
likely would lead to appease-
ment. These editorials say In
effect we should act on Bull