Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-17
The Price of Peace

In his opening address TO NATO's
summit conference, President Eisen-
hover has set forth a number Of IA
miliar generalities about the virtues Of
freedom and Just peace. AT the same
time. however. he has implicitly ac-
knowledged thSt a mere reaflrmation
of faith in such virtues Is not enough
to make them endure in the kind of
world we have today. On the contrary,
while asserting that the Atlantic conn
munity currently possesses a superior
margin Of power" vis-a-vis the Krem-
lin, he has warned that the Soviet
threat Is already grove and constantly
growing. And he has warned, further,
that we and our allies, II we are to pre-
serve all that we hold most dear, must
stand fast together In new measures Of
political. economic, scientific and mill
tary cooperation. even as we strive for
workable agreements with the Russians.
Presumably. as the Paris meeting
proceeds, the initial cool and inconclu-
Sive reaction of some Of our allies to
the Presidents ropoSals-especially his
offer of nuclear stockuileS and missiles
will be more clearly defined Meanwhile.
try and all Of NATO's other members in
calling for an end to certain long
standing misconceptions and wishful
habits Of thought. One Of these is that
our free system is inherently more pro-
ductive in every field than Red totali-
tarianiSm. A second Is that time Is
always on our side regardless Of how we
use that time. A third is that "our ma
tions. merely because they are sovereign,
can each lead separate. selfish national
life. without coordination Of planning
and effort" And a fourth is the as
sumption that the forces Of liberty, as
II blessed with automatic built-in guar.
antees and foolproof life insurance,
must inevitably triumph over despotism.
Quite obviously, as the President
has said, we can count on no such in
evitability as We now move Into an era
in which vast physical forces cast pail
over the world" It is an era In which
the power arrayed against us, though
not irresistible. is truly formidable
power whose actual and potential men,
ace is so great that "heroic efforts" are
likely to be required Of NATO for a long
time to come, not simply in the military
field, but In every other area of inter-
national activity where concerted allied
action will be a defensive weapon Of
prime Importance. Nor can a program
OF this sort-which should include, as
certain Of our allies have emphasized,
a constant search for an effective under
standing with the Soviets-be worked
out at bargain-ba rates. 1t is
bound to entail some mutual burdens,
some mutual sacrifices. of one kind or
another. AS Mr.. Eisenhower has put 1t,
This peace we seek will not be had for
nothing. Indeed. its price will be high"
What remains to be seen now Is
whether the nations represented in
Paris will be willing to pay that price.
In terms Of their combined resources,
1t is by no means exorbitant, and its
military aspects NOTABLY the question
involving missile bases) may actually be
less pressing than those bearing upon
political, economic and scientific CO.
operation. At any rate, in the Presi-
dents words, We and our allies can be
confident OF ultimate success only II
We cooperate fully in taking up this
burden to deter aggression. prevent an
annihilating war and establish a peace
within which men and women every
where can freely exercise their in
alienable rights to life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness"