Evening star., 1962-10-23
Time of Decision

AS far as the United States is con-
cerned, the decisive hour has struck.
In announcing a selective blockade OF
Cuba, the President has done what had
to be done. And there can be no turning
back.
This means that the choice between
war and peace now lies with the Krem-
lin. A number of Soviet ships are re-
ported en- route to Cuba. If they arrive
off Cuban ports they will be stopped and
searched. If they are carrying offensive
weapons they will be ordered to turn
back. If they try to go through they will
be sunk.
That is the grim and simple truth
of the matter. And 1t is in the light OF
this reality that Mr.. Khrushchev must
decide whether to permit the vessels to
continue on or whether to call them
back. Since even the stopping and
searching of Soviet ship would be
major blow to Russian prestige, 1t must
be assumed that the ships will be called
back-unleSS Mr.. Khrushchev decides to
force a showdown.
It may be that the President should
have acted Sooner-that to wait until
the Russians actually were in Cuba with
offensive weapons was to invite a con-
frontation and a risk of nuclear war
which might have been avoided. The
evidence strongly suggests, however,
that the Kremlin wanted such test,
and would have forced it elsewhere, II
not in Cuba. We say this because the
Russians certainly knew that for some
time we have been photographing their
missile activity in Cuba. Yet Mr.. Gro
myko, surely realizing that the President
knew the truth, nevertheless went to the
White House Thursday and solemnly and
falsely assured Mr.. Kennedy that his
governments sole purpose was to con-
tribute to the defense of Cuba. This
brazenneSs is hard to comprehend. 1t
can only mean that the Russians wanted
us to know what they were doing, or
didn't care, and in either event the
differences are not reaSsuring.
This partial blockade, If successful,
will prevent any further Soviet buildup
In Cuba. It will forestall the develop
ment of a significant Communist Of
fenSive threat on the island. But it
will not bring down Castro. This re-
mains in the category of unfinished
business, and Mr.. Kennedy implied that
we will get to it later.
Meanwhile, the President, we think,
was right in saying that while the course
he has decided upon is hazardous, the
greatest danger Of all would be to do
nothing" Certainly we could not toll
crate a continued buildup of Soviet mis-
sile power in Cuba, and this holds true,
we believe, even though United States
intermediate missiles are on bases in
Italy and Turkey as part Of the NATO
armament. The essential point is that
what Mr.. Khrushchev has started to do
in Cuba, if carried through, would sig
nificantIy alter the balance OF nuclear
power, and he knows it. That he would
undertake such project, aware that we
would quickly detect it, posed a chal-
lenge which simply could not be ignored
or evaded "if our courage and our COM
rnitments are ever to be trusted again
by either friend or foe"
So, the fateful hour has struck, and
we must be ready to face future piled
high with peril. But let us remember
that it has struck for Mr.. KhruShchev as
well as for us. He will enjoy no i'm
munity from the consequences OF un-
leashing nuclear war, and he knows it.