The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1962-11-08
Washington
News Notes

Rusk On Wev Out
Berlin Holds On
Washington, D.C.-There Is no
doubt that President John Ken
nedy's strong reaction to the
Russian attempt to create .
Communist missiles base In Gu
ba has strengthened his hand
and immensely bolstered the
image of the Kennedy Admins
tration among the American
people.
The President took matters in
to his own hands when he found
the Soviets doing exactly what
his Secretary of State had said
they would not do building
offensive missile bases in Cuba.
The turn of events in Cuba,
and the proof that Secretary
Dean Rusk has been naive In
appraising Communist intentions
is likely to mean his dismissal
before the 1864 elections. In
fact; in the recent tense week
over Cuba, Rusk was not even
included i'm the inner group max
ing the split-seconi decisions.
The forced backdown OF Nikita
Khruchev by the show Of deter
mination on the Presidents part
could mark a historic turning
point in United States foreign
policy.
Until then the theories Of
Rhodes-scholar and former ed
ucator Rusk he'd sway. They
held sway even against the def
mite testimony of some that
missiles sites were being plan
ned. And Rusk was the man who
blocked a naval blockade Of Gu
ba last July-when the Soviets
began to ship their first missiles
to Cuba.
He was the man who told Con-
gress much later. after mid-Sep-
tember, that he still opposed a
naval blockade. Such obvious
grave miscalculations are GER
tain to make Rusk an even great
er political liability than he has
been in recent months.
Thus the turning point could
be both international and inter
nal. II could mean that US. pol
icy will be backed with more
firmness and less negotiations
and talk tRusk was continually
negotiating with the Soviets. be-
lieving he could work things out
with them) and a new broom or
new leadership in the State De-
partment, to set the policy tone.
II could be the greatest turn
about for President Kennedy
since he took office. II could
mean he will be a far more
formidable candidate in 1864
than he would have been had he
not acted forcefully in the re-
cent crisis.
II might also mean If Rich
ard Nixon wins in California.
that the former Vice President
was right in guessing that Ken
nedy may well be unbeatable
in 1864 and that he might IS
well wait until 1858 to make
another presidential bid.
The situation in Berlin re-
mains tense and u. S. military
figures wonder IL there will be
any delayed action burn" from
Nikita Kbrushchev affecting the
s. posture in Berlin.
Khrushchev could put the
pressure on the United States
by shutting off West Berlin's
supplies or having East Ger
man W IL lie view INV 40
that Washington will meet this
test with the same firmness
that was used in the Cuban
crisis.
The Moscow timetable Is the
greatest unknown in the pres
ent situation. Khrushchev had
planned to move after the Nov
ember 9Th elections; whether
the firm show of will in Wash
ington on Cuba will cause Khru-
shchev to think twice about
risking a showdown on Berlin
is the key.
II Khrushchev really precipi-
tates a dangerous crisis. and
risks war. Washington plans to
meet his challenge with resolute
will. The days of constant APP
peals for negotiations on trump
ed-up Russian crises and nerv-
Gus perspiration and consulta-
tons and deals" ended with the
Presidents takeover of foreign
affairs in the Cuban crisis.