Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-09-10
Amid the Foul Winds

In identical notes to the Kremlin,
France, Britain and the United States
now have warned anew, "in the most
solemn terms" against any Communist
interference with allied flights in the
air corridors between West Germany
and free Berlin. In effect, the notes
leave no room for doubt that such inter-
ference could have the most fateful
conSequenceS-for which the SovietS
would be fully responsible - as to
whether or not the worlds present
precarious peace is to be preserved.
Moreover, by coincidence, if not
design, this latest Anglo-French-
American warning has been voiced
almost simultaneously with a Somberly
significant address delivered here in
Washington by Paul H. Mite, Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International
Security Affairs. Thus, speaking to the
annual convention of the Association of
the United States Army, Mr. Mite,
whose comments are authoritative on
matters of this sort, has served notice
that Soviet efforts to negate the Vests
basic rights in Berlin would be "the
straw that breaks the camelS back"
And he has gone on to assert that our
side would counter force with force in
any such situation, including the
certain prospect" of resorting to Stra-
tegic nuclear weapons if necessary.
Meanwhile, as if imperviouS to or
contemptuous of world opinion
which actually seems much less in
formed or intelligent or worthy of
respect than some nervous-Nellie COM
mentatorS have been arguing for years
past-the Soviet Union has f1agrantly
abandoned its pledges and cut loose
with an ominouS new series of atmoS-
pheric nuclear tests of type that can
rain potentially dangerous radioactivity
on the human race. In response, after
nearly three years of voluntarily and
unWiSely adhering to an unpoliced NOR
atorium on all such experimentation,
our own country now is preparing to
resume underground atomic hydrogen
detonations, which involve no fallout
hazards, but which Nikita KhruShchev
the moratorium's wrCcker-has the
monumental gall to condemn.
Almost needless to say, all this adds
up to something less than a pretty
picture of international life in the year
1851 Although he tends to take a too
mystical and -excitable view of the
world around him, midas Prime Min
lister Nehru probably has spoken the
fears of many people in declaring, during
his Moscow visit last week, that "the
foul winds of war are blowing" and
that rything-including the human
race-may be lost unless President
Kennedy and Premier KhruShchev get
together at the summit" to reach
agreements putting an end to the
present crisis. Mr.. Khrushchev, the
blithe manufacturer of the crisis, has
agreed with this view, and in typical
Orwellian, upside down language, he
has affirmed that he is eager to arrive
at peaceful settlement with the United
States, but apparently only on his own
terms.
AS for Mr.. kennedy-Who will hear
a similar summit" call from President
Sukarno when the latter visits here
next Tuesday-he has repeatedly en-
phaSized that our Government is willing
to negotiate on an honorable basis and
in a proper give-and-take atmosphere
free of any kind of threat from Mos
COW. Such an atmosphere does not exist
now, and until it does, a new venture
in "summitry' will be out of the ques-
ton. Nevertheless, even while fully
indorSing MIR. Mites stern views, Sec
rotary Rusk has made clear that he and
the President, together with the West
ern allies, will continue to strive amid
1.-The foul winds" to bring about gen.
timely honest and fruitful talks with
the Russians.
This is as it should be, of course.
For even as we stand prepared to de-
fend our rights, with force if need be,
we owe it to ourselves, our allies, and
vail humanity to do whatever can be
done-in honor-to avert nuclear war.
HenI&hf,,I Po~r,,;&;nr