Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-09


ltion. Every informed govern
ment knows this. II Is no
secret.
Since the Korean armistice,
the American people have spent
s225 billion In maintaining and
strengthening this overall de-
fensive shield.
This Is the position as Of
today.
Period Ahead
Now as TO the period ahead:
Every part Of our military es-
Establishment must and will be
equipped TO do It's defensive job
with the most modern weapons
and methods. But II Is particu-
larry important to our plan
ming that we make q candid
estimate Of the effect OF long
range ballistic missiles on the
present deterrent power I have
described.
At this moment. the consen-
sus Of opinion Is that we are
probably somewhat behind the
Soviets In some areas Of long
range ballistic missile develop
ment. But 1t Is my conviction,
based on close study Of all rele-
want intelligence. that II we
make the necessary effort, we
will have the missiles. in the
needed quantity and In time, to
sustain. and strengthen the de-
terrent power Of our increas-
ingly efficient bombers. One en-
couraging fact evidencing this
ability is the rate Of progress
we have achieved since we be-
gan TO concentrate on these
missiles.
The intermediate ballistic
missiles. THOR and JUPITER,
have already been ordered into
production. The parallel prog
ress in the intercontinental bal
listic missile effort WIN be adj
vanced by our plans for ae-
CELEBRATION. The development Of
the submarine based POLARIS
missile system has progressed
so well that its future procure
ment schedules are being
moved forward markedly.
When 1t is remembered that
our country has concentrated
on the development Of ballistic
missiles for only about q third
as long IS the Soyiets. these
achievements show q rate OF
progress that speaks for itself.
Only q brief time back. We
were spending at the rate Of
only about 81 million q year
on long-range ballistic missiles.
In 1857 we spent more than 81
billion on the Atlas. Titan,
Thor. Jupiter and Polaris pro- |
grams alone. |
But I repeat. gratifying |
though this rate Of PROCESS Is, |
We must still do morei
Our real problem. then, is
not our strength today: It is
rather the vital necessity of |
action today to ensure our |
strength tomorrow.
What ! have Just said applies
to our strength as q single I
country. But We are not alone. |
! have returned from the re-
cent NATO meeting with re-
newed conviction that, because
we are . part Of . worldwide
community Of free and peace
ful nations. our own security
Is immeasurably increased.
BY contrast. the Soviet Union
has surrounded itself with cap /
tive and sullen nations. Like q
crack In the crust Of an un-
easily sleeping volcano, the
Hungarian uprising revealed
the depth and intensity Of the
patriotic longing for liberty
that still burns within these
countries.
The world thinks Of us as q
country which Is strong, but
which will never start a war.
The world also thinks Of us as
q land which has never en-
shaved anyone and which is
animated by humane ideals.
This friendship. based on COM
mon ideals, is one Of our great
est sources Of strength.
1t cements into q cohesive
security Arrangement the ag-I
gresate Of the spiritual, mill
tary and economic strength Of
all those nations which, with
us, are allied by treaties and
agreements.
Up to this point, I have
talked solely about our military
strength to deter a possible flu
ture war.
i now want to talk about the
strength We need to win a
different kind Of war-one that
has already been launched
against US.
1t Is the massive economic
offensive that has been
mounted by the Communist