Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-21

default should be ignored be-
cause the United Nations has
not been able effectively to carry
out its resolutions condemning
the Soviet Union for its armed
suppression of the people OF
Hungary. Perhaps this is a case
where the proyerb applies that
two wrongs do not make a right.
! No one deplores more than 1
the fact that the Soviet Union
ignores the resolutions of the
United Nations. Also. no nation
is more vigorous than is the
United States in seeking to exert
moral pressure against the Soviet
Union, which by reason of its
size and power and by reason of
its veto in the United Nations
Security Council. is relatively
impervious. to other types of
sanction.
/ The United States and other
free nations are making clear by
every means at their command
the evil of Soviet conduct in
Hungary. 1t would indeed be a
sad day II the United States ever
felt that it had to subject Israel
to the same type of moral pres
sure as is being applied to the
Soviet Union.
There can. Of course, be no
equating Of a nation like Israel
with that Of the Soviet Union.
The peoples of Israel, like those
lof the United States, are inn
bued with a religious faith and
a sense Of moral values. We are
entitled 70 expect. and do .ex-
pect. from such people OF the
free world a contribution to
world order which unhappily we
cannot expect. from a nation
controlled by atheistic despots.
Invasion Not Justified
It has been suggested that
United Nations actions against
Israel should not be pressed be-
cause Egypt has in the past
violated the armistice agreement
and international law. 1t is true
that both Egypt and Israel, prior
to last October. engaged in re-
Iprisals in violations Of the
armistice agreements and that
Egypt ignored the United Ma
lions in exercising belligerent
rights in relation to Israeli ship
ping in the Suez Canal and in
the Gulf Of Aqaba. However,
such violations constitute no
Justification for the armed in
Ivasion OF Egypt by Israel which
the United Nations is now SEEK
ing to undo.
Egypt. by accepting the six
principles adopted by the Sc.
curity Council last October in
relation to the Suez Canal.
bound itself to free and open
transit through the Canal with
out discrimination, and to the
principle that the operation OF
the canal should be insulated
from the politics Of any country.
| We should not assume that II
Israel withdraws. Egypt will
prevent Israeli shipping from
using the Suez Canal or the Gulf
OF Aqaba. If, unhappily. Egypt
does hereafter violate the armi-
stice agreement or other inter-
national obligations. then this
should be dealt with firmly by
the society Of nations.
A Grave Moment
The present moment is a grave
one, but we are hopeful that
reason and right will prevail
Since the events of last October
and November. solid progress
has been made, in conformity
with the Charter OF the United
Nations. There is the cease fire.
the forces Of Britain and France
have been withdrawn. the forces
of Israel have been partially
withdrawn, and the clearing of
the canal nears completion.
When Israel completes its with
drawal, it will have removed a
definite block to further progress.
Once this block is removed.
there will be serious and creative