Evening star., 1961-02-02

CneleSS, we are going TO go
ahead in general, or perhaps
there may be one or two
changes, but they will be rel
atively minor, we are going
ahead with the revenue request.
@. Have you thought of any
new sources of revenue?
A. We will be discussing the
sources Of revenue for any ad-
ditional programs we suggest,
because we will, with every
program we send, suggest a
source of revenue.
@. Mr.. President, your pred
eceSSor in office called himself
a political moderate. He said
he believed in the middle of :
the-road approach. What do
your call yourself, politically,
and how do you define your
political philosophy?
A. Well, I don't call myself
anything except a Democrat
who has been elected President
of the United States. And I
hope I am a responsible Presi-
dent. That is my intention.
@. Mr.. President, are there
plans afoot now for Prime
Minister Macmillan or Presi-
dent de Gaulle or any Of the
others to meet with you per-
sonally in the next few months? /?
A. I would not be able TO
answer that, because any an
nouncement on proposed visits
should be timed with the coun-
tries that are involved, and we
are not able to make that tim
ing at this time.
@. Mr.. President, your state
of-the-Union message, sir, to
Congress was taken by some to
mean a rather sharp criticism
Of President Eisenhower's mill
tary policy and judgment
Would you care to comment
on that?
A. We are making an assess
ment Of whether the plans we
now have for the defense OF
the United States are matched
by the military strength to i'm
plement those plans.
That preliminary Judgment
will be finished by the end OF
February. 1t may result in some
different budget requests, and
some different command de-
cisions. But until the Secretary
of Defense completes that anal
ysis. I would not attempt to
make any criticisms or suggest
that we are going to have tt
change the plans made BY
President Eisenhower.
But I do think that the sit
uation grows more serious. The
Chinese Communist strength
increases, the intervention BY
the Communists in these crit.
ical areas which I mentioned
has grown greater, and, there.
fore, we have to consider
whether in the light of thi'
conditional threat, the strength
we now have, not only our nu'
clear deterrent, but also oul
capacity for limited war, is suf
ficient.
1t is not intended as a criti
cism Of any previous action b,
any previous administration
but merely is an attempt II
meet our own responsibility a
this time.
4 @. Mr.. President, Senate
Pastore during hearings he'll
yesterday and today OF
amending Section 3J5 Of tn
Communications Act. raised
question of whether an in
coming presidential candidat
would agree to debate a so
called outsider on television.
And the present Attorne,
General in post-election re
marks expressed some douh
that one who is already Presi
dent would agree to debat
with one who wants to b
President. Could you tell us. t
clear the air on this, whethe
If you are a candidate in 1856
you would agree to debate?
A. I would, yes.
@. Mr.. President. will you ex
, plain what our policy and pur
pose is in connection with tn
: Portuguese liner, the SAINT
Maria, and whether it goes be
yond the safety of the passen
gers, and whether you have hav
any notes from the Portuguese
Government in connection wit
this?
A. Well, the Portuguese Gov
ernment and the Ambassador
Of course, have expressed thei
great interest in securing tn
control Of the ship again. w
have been concerned about tn
lives Of the American passen
gers aboard, and we are con
cerned about their lives. W.
are also we'll aware Of the in
terest Of the Portuguese gov
ernment in securing contro
again of the ship, and I an
hopeful that all of these in
terests can be protected.
Now, we have no informatio,
that the Portuguese govern
ment has protested, or ha
threatened us with a with
drawal of our air rights in tn
Azores. I believe the Portu
guese government also has de
MED that. but they are mos
concerned about 1t and the.
have made their concern
known to US.
Security Decisions
And Action q Problem
@. Mr.. President, have yol