davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Speech to Come

Seldom has speech received such a
build-up of advance publicity as the one
the President is scheduled to deliver to
the Nation tomorrow night. Speculation
about what he intends to say has been
extraordinarily voluminous, and it has
ranged over wide variety of very stern
and not-So-stern possibilities, economic,
political and military.
Thus there has been plethora of
news stories and think pieces" Sug-
costing g-preSumably on the authority
Of Informed sources"-that Mr.. Ken
nedy will issue kind of call to arms
to the American people and the free
world at large. It has been said, for in
stance, that he will recommend heavy
additional expenditures for defense,
mobilize l million men, and declare
new national emergency to cope
with the immense dangers inherent
not only in the ugly and ominouS Soviet
threat to Berlin, but also in the general
Communist drive for global domination.
There can be no doubt that these
dangers which could explode into
nuclear WARFARE very real, and so it is
good that the President is going to talk
to all of us about them and about what
our country, together with its allies,
must and will do to counter the menace.
However, according to the latest specu-
tation (again presumably from Uniformed
sources'0, it now appears that he has no
intention of going to the extreme of
declaring an emergency and mobilizing
vast numbers of men. Apparently, bad as
1t is, the situation is not quite that bad,
end his recommendation will therefore
be relatively moderate.
But here again we have only guess
work. Actually, what the President
really has in mind-the course of ac-
ton he proposes to follow-will not be
known until he himself spells it out in
his impending address. Meanwhile, all
Americans aware of the perilous nature
of these times have reason to put
everything else aside long enough to
. watch and listen to Mr.. Kennedy
tomorrow night.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Alert for 'Soopy'?

Now that ARRANGEMENTS
for the second Mennen VIII
liams safa1i to Africa are
about complete, maybe we
should pause and take stock.
London and Lisbon have
been alerted and have reacted
with customary diplomatic
aplomb. On the other hand,
Pretoria, with charming
BoeriSh frankness, told us
that it could get along with
out Soapy's advice. The CEN
trail African governments, like
BarkuS, are willing. Appar-
emily they like this big rock
candy mountain deal.
But I do think we have
overlooked one little detail.
A Paul Revere should gallop
just ahead of the Mennen
Williams caravan to give
warning of his imminent ar
rival. Surely unsuspecting
tribesmen should be given a
chance to flee to the hills and
escape the inevitable flood of
oratorical soft soap which
threatens to envelop them.
Angus Sinclair.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Waterfront Corporation

The proposal that Special-purpoSe
corporation of Washington community
leaders might be created to help the
Redevelopment Land Agency with the
multifarious problems of developing the
Southwest waterfront is good one We
are glad that the RIA board has seen
fit to indorse this proposal, and to deter
mine whether there would be any
objection to such an arrangement from
the Federal Government, which is
putting up most of the funds for South
west redevelopment.
Such corporation, as we under
stand the proposal, would act in con-
Sulting capacity to the RLA-assisting
(now that schematic plan for the water
front has been approved) with specific
designs, aiding in the location and
relocation. of existing waterfront busi-
nesSeS, helping to arrange financing for
investors, and generally doing what it
could to cut through the reams of red
tape which must be severed before the
new waterfront will become reality.
All of these functions, of course,
are basic responsibilities of the RIA
itself, and all final decisions would have
to be made by that agency. But the
problems of the waterfront are so COM
plex, and the precedents for guiding
such development so rare, that a
helping hand should be both welcome
and valuable. There is another reason,
too, why public-spirited citizen group
might we'll ride herd on this project.
The Southwest waterfront will be no
ordinary commercial development. En-
tirely apart from its crucial Importance
to the rest of the Southwest, the water
front should be rich in community
values, to which residents of the entire
Washington region should be attracted.
Some officials think that such a nom
profit corporation also might take over
the actual operations of the public areas
of the waterfront in later phases of
the development.
Much the same principles were in
volved in somewhat similar corpo-
ration which was created in Philadel-
phia, and which proved to be a great
success in helping to establish a man.
moth food distribution center. We see
no reason why equal advantages could
not be realized here.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Congressional Aide

1t is indeed gratifying to
learn that Congress acted on
one of my suggestions in a
letter to The Star last year.
namely, that of reducing the
social security age limit to 62
for men. I also know it must
be very gratifying to thou
sands of widows for the in
crease given them.
Now, if they would only act
on the other suggestion, that
of reducing from 72 to SIS the
age when a man or woman
might still work and also
receive social security. AS re-
ported in my previous letter,
not many men live to 72, and
If they must work to make
ends meet and then die be-
fore they reach 70, they never
receive any benefits from
social security, yet they may
have contributed to the fund
for 80 years. Surely this is an
inequity that should be ad-
juSted. Victor Meyers.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Critical Mission

ANY hope that the deplorable
French-Tunisian crisis may be resolved
soon and without further bitter conSe-
quenceS seems to rest today in the hands
of United Nations Secretary General
Hammarskjold. Events and words of the
week end hardly make this hope bright
one, although Mr.. Hammarskjold has
responded Immediately to the urgent
invitation of Tunisian President Bour-
guiba to exercise his good offices in
person on the scene.
Meanwhile, however, the cease-fire
asked by the Security Council on Sat-
urday has been only partially effective
as French and Tunisian military COM
manders bickered over the location and
conditions for formal consultations on
its enforcement. TuniSian charges that
French reinforcementS had landed in
the area Of the Bizerte naval-air base
have been denied, but troops of both
sides obviously stand ready to resume
full-scale fighting.
For its part, the Security Council
acted promptly and wisely. Even though
entangled in its customary bloc rivalries,
it came to 10 to agreement on the
simple compromise resolution offered
by Liberia that there should be cease
fire and that armed forces should re-
turn to their original positions. But
until there is at least some further
definition of the latter-Such as whether
the Tunisian blockade lines around the
Bizerte base are to be maintained-no
movement is likely. This is, perhaps, one
of the points that Mr.. HammarSkjold
may be able to clarity and persuade the
belligerentS to accept.
Against this background, and the
accompanying barrage Of accusations
and counter-accuSations between Tunis
and Paris, it is impossible now to assess
the deeper damages or the outcome of
this whole episode. It is clear, however,
that new and prolonged involvement
Of French arms in North Africa, after
the years of fighting in neighboring
Algeria, would be costly in many ways to
France, harmful to Western prestige,
a horror of bloodletting and destruction
for TuniSia itself, and made to order
opportunity for Soviet intervention
and misunderstanding. Both TuniS and
Paris must be aware of this, and they
will have much to answer for If they
do not respond with understanding and
craftsmanship to Mr.. Hammarskjold's
current efforts to restore peace.
Evening star., 1961-07-24

the task falls upon each and
every one Of us? Has it ever
been otherwise in all re-
corded history? These are
the basic matters Of the mo-
ment.
Our enemy grows stronger
every day. If we do not strike
him soon. it may be too late.
So the great decision con-
fronts us. Can the American
people start a preventive
war? Can we strike first?
Can we swing the holy sword
of Michael the Archangel
against the enemies of God
who are about to enslave us?
The answer is no. never, not
us. And in this lies the VIC
tory of communism over the
world. Or can we?
w
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Still Anury

Your July II article, Penn
sy Speeds Work Clearing g
Freight Pile-up," said:
there was a delay of
an hour or two for some
week end passengers held up
in Washington :"
I was there with many
others at Union Station in
Washington, Sunday night,
July Is, impatiently waiting
after the first three-hour de-
lay of the East Coast Cham
pion (Atlantic Coast Line,
destination Florida, coming
over Pennsy lines from New
York. That train arrived in
Washington at 4:20 am,
Monday, DIST. Does this
sound like a wait of one or
two hours!
Traveller.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Able Senior Citizens

It's a well known biological
fact that all men are not
born equal, nor do they die
equal. Some live long, some
short, some are born morons
and others are more fortu-
nate all the way through.
However, the democratic
concept is to allow each in
dividual, whether % or 81, to
benefit to the fullest of his
capabilities, but of course,
with due consideration to the
welfare of all.
So, Sylvia Porter's Threats
in "a '62' Retirement Age"
(Star July 16) is timely. In
discussing the merits of a
lower Social Security volun-
tary retirement age for those
who need it, she warns of
undesired presSures for also
lowering the compulsory" re-
tirement age for those who
don't need it. She suggests
this could be against sound
National policy.
1 couldn't agree more
heartily.
Recently and for the first
time our Government, by
a decree originating with the
medical bureaucrats of a Fed
eral regulatory agency, i'm
posed an early retirement law
upon certain pilot citizens in
aviation. After considerable
study of this matter, includ-
ing some reading of the Su-
preme Court records, I have
concluded that this came
about by a "fluke" in the
legalities rather than by any
trial of the basic merit of
the age situation.
More power to Sylvia if she
can contribute anything to
the avoidance of such "flukes"
to other qualified senior citi-
Zens.
Robert e. Trimble.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
A Good Commissioner

Robert E. Mclaughlin, who leaves
the District government today after six
years as ommiSSioner-five Of them
as president of the board-can take
pride in record of vigorous service to
the Nations Capital during one Of the
most trying and critical periods of its
history. AS Chairman Bible said in a
tribute to Mr.. Mclaughlin the other day,
he has been good Commissioner.
In reviewing for reporters his two
terms as Commissioner, Mr.. Mclaughlin
properly singled out his contributions
in the field of Washington area CO.
operation. More than any other person,
he was responsible for the formation
and the progress of the Washington
Metropolitan Regional Conference, the
voluntary organization of elected and
appointed governing officials which no
doubt will be the keystone of more
elaborate and far-reaching forms of
regional governmental machinery In
addition, his role in the conduct of the
metro area transit study and the sue
cesSful creation of the National Capital
Transportation Agency was major one.
Perhaps, as private citizen, his
experience in this difficult and impor-
tant area of activity may be put to
further use. In any event, Mr. Nc
Laughlin merits the thanks of the citi-
zens of Washington, and we wish him
every success on his return to the private
practice of law.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Red ChuHenoe

The future will belong to
the Communists unless we
act now. It is a pitiful reality
of mankind, that he must be
born into a world that has
known nothing but wars.
Man has always had to fight
for his freedom. What we
enjoy today is a heritage
from the broken, bleeding
bodies of young men who
were willing to sacrifice their
lives for the benefit of sue
ceeding generations. Times
have really not changed; we
just like to think they have.
Can we, the Americans of
today, rise to the challenge?
Are we capable of under
standing that when the dip
lomats and politicians fail
to stem the tide of commu-
nism by words alone, then
Evening star., 1961-07-24
One-Armed Drivers

Summer means vacations,
trips to beaches, extended
auto trips, romance, and
MANY man-hours spent be-
hind the wheel of a car. It
also is the time of the year
when one-handed or one
armed drivers come sharply
into focus. With the windows
Of the car open, and with air.
conditioning systems at a
premium, the best way to
beat the heat is to leave as
much Of the body outside the
car as possible, while still
maintaining some Semblance
of driver control. The dan
gerous habit of driving with
one hand on the wheel and
the other on the roof of the
car should be discouraged.
This habit is most prevalent
among young drivers, but old
er motorists practice it also.
Passengers in the front seat
practice it, too. This is a dan
gerouS habit which leads to
loss Of control and to acci-
dents. It has resulted in a
great number of injuries,
ranging from mild abrasions
to destruction Of the arm.
There have been instances
when limbs were torn from
the socket or mangled to such
an extent that amputation
was needed to save life. It
takes two good hands to
maintain control Of a fast
moving automobile. All forms
of one-handed or one-armed
driving should be discouraged
in the interest of traffic
safety.
M. p. Nemchick,
OXon Hill, Md.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Financing Our Zoo

Funds have never been avail
able for either. And we can
not ask or expect the District
budget to provide for them.
A few days ago, the Smith
Sonian Institution, which
administers the Zoo, an
nounced that it would ask
Congress for capital funds to
begin redevelopment Of the
Zoo. This is a great step for
ward. Last year the Friends
of the National Zoo COM
missioned Landscape Archi-
tects Meade Palmer and
Morris Trotter to prepare a
new site plan for the Zoo.
Now, under District aus
pices, architectural and en-
gineering planning is going
forward, through Daniel,
Mann, Johnson and Men
denhall.
If these plans are fulfilled.
our National Geological Park
will, within a few years, be
one Of the worlds finest.
But while Federal funds
will be sought for these capi-
tai Improvements, the ques-
ton of the operating budget
remains unresolved. The
District can afford to support
a modest municipal ZOO. 1t
cannot finance the activities
which should be part of
national institution.
It is often suggested that
an admission fee be charged.
Should people be asked to pay
to enter the National Gallery
of Art? The Smithsonian's
Museums? The Capitol?
Should the countless bus
loads Of children from out of
town be charged? Surely
Congressman would want
their constituents admitted
free. It could mean that
only District residents would
have to pay!
One solution would be that
Federal funds be provided in
proportion to the visitor load
from outside the District.
Under such a formula, the
District would pay one-fifth
of the Zoos operating costs:
four -fifthS would come from
Federal appropriations. This
would open the way to full
realization Of the Zoos value
to all.
John Perry,
President. The Friends
of the National Zoo.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Berlin Policy

President Kennedy's reply
to the Kremlin should elimi-
nate any doubt as to what our
position is, and how lar we
will go to honor our commit
ments in Berlin.
The lengthy message, boil
ed down to simple language.
plainly states that the United
States is willing to risk a war,
if necessary, to fulfill Its
obligation to the Berliners.
This same kind Of language,
used a few years back, would
have made our present POSI-
ton considerably less pre-
carious.
Premier Khrushchev, who
has frequently expressed a
desire for peaceful co-exist-
ence, will in the next five
months have an excellent
opportunity to demonstrate
his sincerity.
Herbert SOmmers.
The administration is seek
ing to impress on the Rus
slams, the American people,
and the world in general the
seriousness Of the Berlin sit
uation and that we are deter
mined to resist Red pressure
to force the Allies out Of the
area.
Reported d contemplated
action includes increase in
our armed strength in Europe
and Gallup Of part of the
Reserves and National Guard.
This would be extremely ex-
penSive and in the case of
the ReServe-Guard Gallup
would take a lot of men away
from their jobs for an in
definite period.
Wouldn't the simplest, most
logical and most effective
move be the immediate recall
to the United States of the
thousands of dependents of
Government employes-both
military and civilian - now
resident in Germany and on
the continent of Europe? OBJ
viously, if the situation is as
serious as the administration
claims it is, this step should
have first priority.
Such action surely would
impress on the logical
minded Russians the fact
that we intend to stand and
fight in Berlin if necessary.
It would also keep a lot Of
gold from flowing out of the
United States Treasury. Or
is this solution too simple
and inexpensive for the bu-
reaucratS?
Arthur Case.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Dubious of Ayub

Ordinarily Pakistan'S PreSi-
dent Ayub Khan's pledges Of
friendship and loyalty to this
country should gladden. the
hearts Of every American, but
I am a bit skeptical. To me
there appears much discrep-
ancy between the language
of the heart of this friend of
ours and the language of his
lips.
On the one hand Presi-
dent Ayub would have us ex-
tend more military and eco
nomic aid to his country and
on the other hand he lectures
us to admit Red China in the
U.N. What kind of loyalty and
friendship is that?
Only until last year Paki-
stan voted wit hus against the
admission of Red China into
the U.N., but now Ayub has
served a notice on us that his
country would no longer op-
pose Red China's seating in
the world body. Like your
columnist, Gould Lincoln, I
am at a loss to know what
has happened since then to
bring about this radio a |
change in the attitude of our
Pakistani friends. Is it that
they were wrong then and
right now; or is it that they
were dishonest in their opin-
ion before and now they are
coming out in their true
colors?
The truth is that Pakistan
is not any more opposed to
International C o m munism
than her neutral neighbor
India is. The only difference
between the two is that
whereas the latter is openly
neutral, the former is play
ing a crude deception on us.
Pakistan is only sincere in
its hatred toward India. To
satisfy these elements of
jealousy, President Ayub
would have us cut off eco
nomic aid to India, and if
his recent flirtations with Red
China succeeded he would
have that country recognize
Pakistan's claim to the dis
puted territory of Kashmir.
I do not doubt President
Kennedy's ability to ascertain
true motives behind Ayub's
utterances but I think Ameri-
can people must learn to take
with a grain of salt such de-
ceptive professions of love.
Don Weaver.
Evening star., 1961-07-24

Your recent editorial on
the financing of proposed
capital improvements at the
National Geological Park was
most interesting and the
points considered very well
made. Your continued inter-
est in this situation is great
ly appreciated.
Recently I appeared before
the House Appropriations
Subcommittee to support
the budget requests of the
National Geological Park.
While waiting, I heard a pa
rade of witnesses speak on
District needs for education,
hospitals, m e ntal hygiene
clinics and welfare. Clearly
some acute human needs
have not been fully met.
Can those of the Zoo take
priority? Indeed, why should
District taxpayers be asked
to finance the Nations Zoo?
OF the Zoos growing visitor
load, four in every five per-
sons come from outside the
District!
In fact,the appropriation
approved by the House COM
mittee will meet the Zoos
most urgent needs. The sit
uation is far better than it
was a few years ago. The
Zoo administration can pro-
vide good care for its ami
mails and safeguard its visi-
tors. The appearance of ex-
hibits, building and grounds
has been improved.
But something important
is missing. Just displaying
animals is not enough. Here
is an opportunity to give mil
lions of visitors, especially
groups Of school children, a
keener understanding of the
creatures with whom we
share the earth, to show
them how all animal life, in
cluding human. depends on
the same basic resources:
sunlight, air, water and soil.
We are missing a chance to
give them a glimpse of
geology. geography. and con-
servation. Unless this is done,
indeed, a false impression is
conveyed: that animals are
mere curiosities!
Both public education and
scientific research were rea-
sons for the Zoos founding.
There Is need for both.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDrtterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
terS are subject to condenSG-
tion. Those not used tDiH be
returned only tDhen accom-
panied By self = addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star., 1961-07-24
Bizerte:: Tragedy of MiscoIcuIotion
Foreign Correspondent Of The Sto

an immediate and urgent in
terest in seeing the war
stopped.
It was a mistake, however,
to imagine that this same
spirit applied to domestic
matters. When it came to
mediating in an essentially
foreign affair Mr.. Bourguiba
could afford to be moderate.
When it came to what he
considers as his own vital
national interests. he could
not.
The French government
was certainly surpriSed-in-
deed it was aStounded-by
the TuniSian grab for Bizerte.
For his part, the TuniSian
man-in-the-street is reported
stunned and bitter at the
violence Of the French re-
sponSe. In fact, however, this
response was Inevitable. And
Mr.. Bourguiba can hardly
have failed to realize this
when he ordered his troops
into action.
BOurguiba's Mistake
There is another aspect Of
the Tunisian affair where
President Bourguiba seems to
be claiming to have made
an error of calculation. So
far as the average Tunisian
is concerned, his President
was betrayed" by the West
at Bizerte. Mr.: Bourguiba
himself complains today that
"it is terrible and extremely
irritating to see Great Brit
ain and the United States
avoid the problem so as not
to upset France"
It is, of course, a waste of
breath to point out that
Britain and the United States
have done no such thing.
The course they pressed in
the U. N. Security Council
for an immediate cease fire
and a return to the status
quo was the only one which
made the slightest sense.
But when an Arab leader
is in trouble, anyone who
doesn't leap Immediately to
his defense is likely to be
labeled as an enemy. Mr..
Bouguiba in this case Is no
exception.
1t seems almost incredible,
however, that he could have
seriously counted on British
or American support for his
effort to force the issue.
Apart from how they may
feel about France or any
justification for the Tunisian
move, Britain and the United
States have a. few naval
bases of their own scattered
around the world. Most of
them are every bit as vulner-
able as Bizerte to the kind of
high-handed action which
Mr.. Bourguiba tries to justify
in the name of national
sovereignty. He can hardly
be unaware that the United
States for its part has
promised to resist Fidel
CaStro's army at Guantan-
amo Bay in Cuba exactly as
Mr.. Bourguiba's army was
resisted at Bizerte.
At any rate, the failure Of
the Bizerte adventure seems
to have been less a result of
miScalculation than of a
sheer inability on President
Bourguiba's part to resist the
pressureS which he himself
helped to create.
He knows the French, the
temper of the French army
and Gen. de Gaulle. He could
not possibly have believed
that France would yield at
Bizerte in the face of an
illegal and unjustified show
of force. No action could
have been more certain to
lead to disaster and set back
the very cause which the
Tunisian President himself
has claimed he wants to pro-
mote.