Evening star., 1960-05-12


making an open skies" in
Spection compared to some,
of the spy work done by
agents of the USSR against us.
Let us get down to past
events and give a listing of
USSR spying that shouldn't
be forgotten so easily. You
might mention the cable
cutting trick by a Russian
trawler CD off our own
shores. and there are prob
ably other events that do
not readily come to mind.
us. Navy CRetired)
After a great deal of right
eous indignation concerning
our plane shot down over
Russian territory, our Gov
ernment falteringly admits
that there is perhaps some
truth in what the Russian
Premier says concerning the
purpose of that plane. One
cannot help but think of a
small boy, blushing, being
caught with his hand in the
forbidden cookie jar.
In dealing with this Incl
dent, our Government prac-
ticed deception of the first
degree. 1t was our intent to
have the world believe that
the plane was on a purely in
nocent mission. and that it
wandered by accident into
Russia. This became impos-
sible after a short while.
Even worse, the American
Government attempted to
deceive the citizens to whom
1T is supposed to be RESPONSE
BILE. This is the first time
this has happened to my
knowledge.
1t is deeply disturbing to
see the foundations of de-
mocracy undermined in this
sinister fashion. Who ordered
that planes mission? 1t is
high time that we reaffirm
the basic philosophy of de-
mocracy - responsibility to
the electorate. If we allow
ourselves to be dictated to by
a government responsible to
no one but itself, then we
shall gradually evolve into a
totalitarian state. This Incl
dent was the beginning. How
far will it go?
Pierre E. Dostert.
=
The Pentagon, the Acc and
the CIA have every right to
be vigilant. And it is some
what Understandable why
they might be unhappy over
any trends toward a detente
in the cold war and disarma-
ment. But the airplane pene-
tration of Russia, coming as
it did at this time, would ap-
pear almost to have been a
deliberate attempt to disrupt
the approaching summit con-
ference. And Congress should
fully investigate this whole
matter Immediately. With
such an important meeting
so close at hand, common
sense should have dictated
that special care should be
exercised by all of our over
seas personnel so as not to
cause an increase in tensions
with Russia. And one would
have assumed that particu-
larly our military and intel
ligence personnel overseas
would have been specifically
instructed along these lines.
Secretary Herter is to be
commended for making a dis
closure on the airplane Incl
dent. But it is of little COM
fort to realize that the truth
is so hard to obtain these
days. The original version of
the incident, which turned out
to have little semblance to
the actual truth. appeared to
be generally accepted by most
everyone without question.
And it is frightening to think
that we, or any other nation,
could perhaps easily be
pushed into war through dis
tortions of facts, half-truths
and misinformation, or by the
rash act, or acts, of some
overseas personnel. Interna-
tionally controlled disarma-
ment becomes more and more
imperative every day.
Robert Tabb Stewart.
=
Spying on Russia. however
sinister it may seem, is an
essential and clearly legiti-
mate means for the Nations
protecting itself. Ordering our