Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-23
Pride and Discretion


investigation into the posi-
bilities of a surrender by the
United States in a future war
seems to me to indicate q
most deplorably unrealistic
attitude on the part of vari-
GUS Government officials and
others.
AS difficult as it may be for
q proud, q powerful, and q
hitherto undefeated nation to
consider surrender, the alter
natives ought to be examined.
The consequences of a nu-
clear war are different in
kind, not Just in degree, from
those of more conventional
wars. The present emotional
outburst makes it quite evil
dent that the full signifl-
canoe and consequences to
future generations of nuclear
warfare, of fallout, of radia-
ton and radioactivity have
not yet penetrated into the
thinking of many of those in
our Government, in the mill
tary, and elsewhere. A sur
render and submission, even
to the worst of despotisms.
may be difficult for the gen.
Grafton so surrendering, but
it may we'll insure the very
existence of future genera
tons, to be free once again.
There is still need for a draS-
tic revision in the minds of
many Of a number of age-old
concepts of warfare and of
acknowledgements in regard to
courage, pride and others.
Should the situation arise
where the choice lies between
surrender or the prolongation
of a war involving about use
of nuclear weapons, it would
seem that only the most
short-sighted would defend
any choice other than sur
render. Surrender, to any
enemy, at least leaves still
human survivors to 60 on to
make something of the
future. Any extended use of
nuclear weapons will leave
few survivors in the first
generation; what we will have
in subsequent generations
will be elassifiable as neither
human nor as intelligent.
I am sure that should
q nuclear war occur, and
should this country, by
pursuit of a no-surrender
policy, prolong that war,
whether to ultimate victory
or to defeat, that in future
ages, when the present era is
long-dead history. our de-
scendantS, if any, if they still
possess a glimmer of intelli-
gence, and If enough of our
present civilization has sur
Vived so that the thread Of
history and culture is still
perceived (all of which are
doubtfuD will curse us for our
myopic national pride,
Pride, in our culture, is a
fairly normal emotion, but
pride is destructive, and al
most invariably leads to IRA
tional and harmful courses of
action. 1t is national pride,
at its worst, and little else,
which has caused the present
controversy.
1 am perhaps over-ideal-
istic, but I do not believe that
we will have a major nuclear
war. Correctly or incorrectly,
however, this country is COM
mitted to a policy Of armed
to-the-teeth preparedness for
one. To be consistent with the
philosophy behind such pre-
paredness, one must examine
and coldly evaluate. on as
long-range a basis as is
feasible, the possible conse-
auences of entrance into such
a war. AS unpleasant as 1t
may seem, surrender could
we'll be the only sane, far
sighted course Of action,
shortly after the start Of such
a war-particularly If we are
not the aggreSsors, and in
view of the present Russian
superiority in many types Of
armament.
Let us not allow super
patriotism to lead US, ostrich
like, to ignore the realities Of
the situation in terms of the
future of the human race,
Discretion is often the better
part of valorl