Evening star., 1960-07-13
Let's Stand together

rIOH ILlc OOIlBO, WLleTe new
republic is falling apart, comes call for
5000 American soldiers to help restore
law and order
From Moscow comes word that an
American Air Force RB-47, Six-engine
jet reconnaissance plane, has been shot
down by the Russians over the BarentS
Sea.
In each instance information is
Scanty, conflicting or both. The request
for troops grows out of the savage dis
orders which have rocked the Congo,
and the Americans are wanted there to
deal with mutinous CongoleSe native
troops. There is no question about the
need for help. We think it is right,
however, that an American force, as
such, should not be sent into the Congo.
If our troops are sent, they should go
only under United Nations auspices.
The Russians say the RB-47 was
over Russian territory, and was shot
down when it ignored Soviet fighter
planes signals to land. White House
Press Secretary Hagerty denies that the
plane was over Russian territory or over
Russian territorial waters. How he
knows this, since the plane apparently
was maintaining radio silence at the
time, is not clear. The aircraft may have
been engaged in some kind of espionage
mission. If this proves to have been the
case, it may be shocking to some
MISUNDERSTANDING so closely after
the U-2 incident. Given the dangerous
world in which we live, however, it is
necessary, we suppose, to continue our
own espionage effortS-just as the
Russians are continuing theirs.
Still, with the best face put on the
matter, it is obvious that incidents such
as these are griSt for Mr.. Khrushchev's
mill. And he is making the most of his
opportunity.
The Soviet leader has praised the
native soldiers who have been raping,
killing and looting. in the Congo. He
calls the sending of Belgian troops to
rescue Belgian citizens "a predatory
pirate-like policy" Heaven knows what
he would be saying if American troops
were going in. Much the same is true
OF the plane incident. Mr. Khrushchev
calls it 'new act of perf1dy," and says
resumption Of U-2 espionage flights
would bring matters to the outbreak of
war"
What is the real meaning of all
this? To us it seems plain enough. Mr..
KhruShchev does not really believe that
mutiny in the Congolese army is a good
thing, nor is the chief of the state which
stole our atomic secrets really surprised
and Mortified by our own attempts at
espionage. But he does see what he
hopes will be an opportunity to picture
Russia, no matter how vicious the lie,
as the champion of the African black
man and of the Cuban revolution This
may pay some propaganda dividends.
He also sees what he hopes is an oppor-
tunity to paint the United States as a
war-seeking nation, and thereby to
intimidate our allies He may enjoy
some success.
What can we do about it? For one
thing, as Lyndon Johnson once put it,
we can stop doing Mr.. Khrushchev'S
work for him. In order to recognize and
rectify our errors, it is not necessary
to be constantly indulging in kind of
national hagellation, to unreasonably
downgrade the United States and up
grade the Russians. In quest of a
political victory in the United States, it
is not necessary to sell our country short
in the world market. The threat to
America is great enough and ominouS
enough without reSorting to the kind of
partisan politics, some of which has
been in evidence at Los Angeles, which
can only serve to tear us apart In the
field Of foreign affairs, where the real
threat lies, the need for unity among
Americans is great and compelling.
Let's try standing together for a change