Evening star., 1961-05-26
The Freedom Doctrine

President Kennedy has set new
targets of strength and accomplishment
at new high costs in effort and money
for Americas continuing leadership
in the cause of freedom. He has done
SO in challenging interim State-of- 1.-THE
Union message, delivered in person to
the Congress, ranging over domestic
and international affairs, literally to
the moon and back and perhaps to
the very ends of the solar system itself"
1t was a message that was frank
In stating the determination that this
Nation will step up its efforts to win
the minds of men to the side of genuine
liberty, that it will aid them on the
road to economic and social progress
as the alternative to ending up in
totalitarian receiverShip 1t was equally
blunt and forceful in serving notice
that our military power, and that of
our friends and allies, likewise will be
given new muscle. For the coming
fiscal year, the President asked that
funds for the Military Assistance Pro-
gram be increased from his earlier
request of $1.6 billion to $1885 billion.
Our major military alliances, NATO in
the West and SEATO in the East, were
described as the center of freedoms
defense" and there was a warning
against any miScalculation of our will
and capacity to resist any type of
aggression in the NATO area particu-
larly. In our own military establish
ment, greatest emphasis was placed on
plans for modernization of the Army,
increase of its non-nuclear firepower
and improvement of its tactical mobility
to provide greater and more quickly
available strength in both Europe and
the Pacific. An increase in Marine
Corps strength, to respond to limited
war emergencies, likewise was asked.
BY far the most dramatic of the
Presidents proposals, however, were
those dealing with the new frontier
Of human adventure" into space. AS
an objective before this decade is out,
he specified the landing of man on
the moon and his safe return to earth.
For this project, Mr.. Kennedy asked an
additional $531 million for this year
with still higher sums in the future
To accelerate development of the
ROVER nuclear rocket, which he said
might some day provide the means for
exploration to the very ends of the
solar system itself, he asked another
$23 million Immediately Along with
additional expenditures on spatial COM
munications and weather observation,
the President estimated that an extra
- Ia;1I
over the next five years.
It is difficult to calculate the over
all budget impact of the Presidents
proposals. Some, such as a reorganized
but expanded civil defense program,
even specified that the cost estimates
would come along later. The President
did acknowledge that what he considers
the security needs will increase current
deficit estimates, but he said also that
our present tax structure and resources
are sufficient "if our economy moves
ahead" Related, perhaps, was the
flat assertion that "the recession has
been halted Recovery is under way"
Whatever the fiscal implications,
1t seems clear that the Presidents
primary intent was to serve notice to
the "adversaries of freedom" the
Communists, that there is no limit to
our determination, no possible weaken
ing In our resolution to stand, and fight
If necessary, on the side of liberty"
Stated so soon before his departure for
Europe and meetings with two of our
stanchest allies, in Paris and London,
and with Soviet Premier Khrushchev
in Vienna, it is timely and meaningful
affirmation.