Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-03
DECISIONS
How Should We Compete With Russia?

should the United States regard a
Soviet regime which. while retain
ing the basic structure, historical
outlook and unlimited future ex-
pectations and purposes of COM
munism, may have decided to pur-
sue its goals along the lines of Con
structive competition?
This is perhaps the subtlest chal-
lenge of all. and it is not to be met
by denials that anything has
changed significantly.
Not that the United States can
overlook the continuing Stain heri-
tage. including the existence of an
empire in Eastern Europe created
and maintained against the wishes
OF the inhabitants. But awareness
Of these and other injustices does
not relieve us Of the need, in our
diplomacy and in our own thinking.
to meet the changes where they
have occurred. In other words, the
simple act of insistehce on the con-
tinuing evils of the Soviet system
is not, by itself, sufficient basis for
an American policy.
Whot We Con Do
Do we have the awareness, the
insight and the imagination to deal
with this new image? 1t is prob
ably a matter of faith rather than
OF certain proof, to affirm that our
democracy does possess this capac-
ity But it has been we'll and USE
fully pointed out that many of thu
appeals which the Soviet Union is
currently trying to exert through
out the world have, in fact. been
taken from the democratic store
house, not from the treasury of
MarXiSt virtues.
Freedom, independence, peace,
human dignity and human welfare
these are not Of Marxist inspira-
ton, and there is no reason we
should fear to accept challenge
IN these terms or, indeed, to press
the challenge on our own.
Admittedly. the use of these con-
cepts in many parts of the world
today is chiefly rhetorical and con-
ceals some vigorously illiberal senti-
ments = resentment. Illustration.
envy and revenge. Unfortunately.
the Communist use of phrases from
the liberal tradition for altogether
alien purposes constitutes precisely
us attraction in some countries
which are in the throes of adapting
themselves to the goth century.
Still, while we should not be
naive about the universal appeal of
the democratic vision, this need
neither deprive us of our own faith
IN 1t nor lead us to conclude that it
Is spent force, nice heritage per-
maps but incapable of indefinite re-
newal in face of contemporary prob
lens. We can gain some justified
encouragement from the thought
that while the area of communism
mas expanded greatly since l945
SO also has the area of democracy
ano real self-determination, in Eu-
rope. in Africa and in Asia.
Reliance on our democratic faith
necessarily brings US back, however
TO our earlier question regarding
the eventual outcome of successful
competition" as a positive achieve
ment rather than as the avertinQ
OF disasters. We may assume that
there is little point in speaking of
positive achievement If the comne-
tltlon is. in the last analysis. to be
settled IN terms of physical power
and violence.
Wnlle we cannot be sure there
VIII De no major war in the future
ana while we can certainly decide
that the United States must not
be the loser in such a war should
IL occur. it seems evident that a
military stalemate is greatly to be
preferred TO such a fearful catas-
trophe. But military stalemate
need not mean that the competition
is a draw.
II a test at the outer surfaces
OF the two systemS-that is,
trial by armS-dOes not take place.
new forms of competition NAV
arrive ever more deeply into the
inner resources of the two So
cieties. and ultimately provide a
test Of the truths and values of
each.
This. perhaps. is a paradoxical
result for a century which has
created so much physical power.
but 1t is not unconnected with that
creation. And at this level it is
difficult to envisage a stalemate.
Ideas, political faiths, do not enter
stalemate; one wins out over the
other-or conceivably both are re-
placed by third. If it is a COM
petition Of ideas that is at stake
ideas in their application to the
human situation. in their capacity
TO inform and give purpose to social
actions-then we may conclude that
successful competition" does in
fact imply a positive victory for
democracy.