Evening star., 1962-09-23

- SoAAAO4AOW WOAA0s bAAC PICc-
sures Of crises such as Berlin and
Cuba, the awesome oscillation of
nuclear weapons. and the current
angry exchanges between Moscow
and Washington make it difficult
for all Of us to keep our perspec-
tive.
This Illustration is reflected in
the charge, by some Americans,
that our foreign policy is not suf-
ficiently practical" "hardhead-
ed" or realistic" to cope with
the problems we face.
Sees Dangerous Attitude
More precisely, it is said that
we pay too much attention to the
underdeveloped countries; that
we should support willy-nilly any
government that agrees with our
view Of world affairs, regardless
Of its own internal policies; that
we are wasting our money on
foreign aid; that all we need to
assure the peace Is bigger and
better missiles; that we aren't
nearly tough" enough with the
Russians; that the United Ma
tions is nice in theory but hope
leSsly ineffective in practice; that
we, must stop the Communists
with force" since force is the
only thing they understand; and
that those who see the world in
less simplified terms are pussy
footers, pinks and towards.
Such thinking, in my view, is
rash, uniformed, and dangerous.
If allowed to go unchallenged, it
can draw US into games Of Rus
sian roulette and nuclear chick
en-" which may play directly into
the hands Of our adversaries, and
which, ultimately can lead to a
world catastrophe.
Let us consider q current ex-
ample Cuba.
Although those who now urge
us to take direct military action
against Cuba are expressing a
Illustration which all Of US feel,
Illustration has never been ac-
cepted by historians as an ade-
quate excuse for folly.
,- The President made 1t clear at
his press conference that he will
act promptly and vigorously If the
Soviet trained and armed Cuban
forces threaten Cuba's nelghbors,
our naval base at Guantanamo,
the approaches to the Panama
Canal, or United States security
. generally.
Sees q Cubon Revolt
OF one thing we can be Ger
tain: Sooner or later the Cuban
people will regain their independ-
ence. Their devotion to freedom
has been amply shown through q
century Of heroic resistance to
oppression. In time they will
throw off the present despotism
AS they have its predecessors.
But If under present circum-
stances we were to follow the
urgings of the extremists and to
attack Cuba, we would do irrep-
arabic harm to the cause of free
dom. We would undercut our in
;fluence in world affairs, blacken
our reputation in the United Ma
tions, and forfeit our traditional
claim to moral leadership, while
destroying thousands of young
lives in the process.
Would such action lead to
World War III. Although no one
can be sure, I am inclined to
doubt it. The recent Soviet mes
sage added some convenient loop
holes in fine print.
What 1t would do is to set the
stage for sweeping Soviet victo-
iries In the critically important
fields of diplomacy and politics.
u With pious protestations of pa
tience in the face of grave Unit
ed States provocation," Soviet
spokesmen in the United Nations
would charge US with blatant ag-
gression, and very likely they
would win majority support.
Would Cut Our Influence
We could then expect to see a
rising tide Of United States re-
sentiment against the United Ma
tions, still greater national frus-
,tration, further leSsening Of our
influence in world affairs, and
mounting preSSures for new mill
tary adventures.
If we are to maintain public
support for a more rational ap-
proach, we must create wider un-
derstanding of the factors that
are most decisive in international
affairs: The true nature of power
in today's revolutionary world;
the influence Of people and the
ideas, hopes and fears that move
them; the weaknesses as well as
strengths Of our adversaries, and
the catastrophe consequences of
,nuclear war.
Against this background, let us
consider the essential ingredients
Of an effective American foreign
policy. each reduced to its sim
pleSt terms. I suggest the follow
ing:
/. A deep national dedication,
reflected in all that we do and
say, to the creation of a more
rational and peaceful world.
2. An awareness of the limits
of unilateral action - political,
economic or military.
- 3. An ability to understand the
mood Of peoples of different cul-
tures and environment, and a
willingness to work with them to
create common action on the wild
est possible range Of subjects.
Must Negotiate Honestly
4. The military capacity to in
+, flict devastating damage on our
!, adversaries if they should attack
US, to cope effectively with local
aggression wherever it occurs,
and the will to use our military
! power to protect our vital inter-