Evening star., 1962-03-24

President Kennedy j,
Gen. Thomas S. POwe
mand, in watching tn
denberg Air Force Ba
impression is surely an opti-
cal illusion. From the perSpec-
tive of Moscow, the world to-
day may seem even more trou-
bleSome, intractable and frus-
trating than it does to us. The
leaders of the Communist world
are not only confronted by
acute internal problems in
each Communist country-the
failure of agriculture, the ris-
ing discomfort of the youth and
the intellectuals, the demands
of technical and managerial
groups for status and security
They are confronted in ad-
dition by profound divisions
within the Communist world it
Subdivisions which have al
ready shattered the image of
communism as a universal Sys-
tenn guaranteed to abolish all
social and international con-
flictS, the most valuable asset
which the Communists had for
many years.
Revolution of Independence
Wisdom requires the long
view. And the long view shows
us that the revolution of ma
tional independence is a fun
damental fact of our era. This
revolution cannot be stopped.
AS new nations emerge from
the oblivion of centuries, their
first aspiration is to affirm
their national identity. Their
deepest hope is for a world
where, within a framework of
International cooperation, ev-
cry country can solve it's own
problems according to it's own
traditions and ideals. -.
AS men conduct the pursuit
Iof knowledge, they create a
world which freely uniteS ma
tional diversity and interna-
tional partnership. This emerg-
ing world is incompatible with
the Communist conception of
world order. 1t will irresistibly
burst the bonds of Communist
organization and Communist
theology. And diversity and
independence, far from being
opposed to the American con-
ception of world order, repre-
sent the very essence of our
vision of the future.
There used to be much talk
a few years ago about the in
evitable triumph of commu-
nism. We hear such talk much
less now. No one who exam
ines the modern world can
doubt that the great currents
Iof history are carrying the
world away from the monolithic
idea toward the pluralist idea
away from communism and
toward national independence
and freedom.
A World Community
Beyond the drumfire of daily
crisis there is arising the out
lines of a robust and vital
world community, founded on
nations secure in their own in
dependence, dedicated to free
dom of choice, and united by
allegiance to world peace and
justice. 1t would be foolish to
say that this world will be won
tomorrow, or the day after. The
processes of history are fitful,
halting and aggravating. There
will be Illustrations and set
backs. There will be times of
anxiety and gloom. The spec
ter of thermonuclear war will
hang over mankind; and we
must heed the advice of Oliver
Wendell Holmes of freedom
leaning on her spear" until all
nations are wise enough to
disarm safely and effectively.
Yet, we can have a new con-
fidence today in the direction
in which history is moving.
Nothing is more stirring than
the recognition of public pur-
pose. Every great age is marked
by innovation and daring-by
the ability to meet unprece-
dented problems with intelli-
gent solutions. In time of
turbulence and change, it is
more true than ever that
knowledge is power; for only
by true understanding and
Steadfast judgment are we able
to master the challenge of his
tory.
Reject Over -Simplifications
If this is so, we must strive
to acquire knowledge - and to
apply it with wisdom. We must
reject over-simplified theories
of international life-the the
ory that American power is un-
limited, or that the American
mission is to remake the world
in the American image. We