Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-19
TMcNamara Tells Senate Committee
Reds Pose Chief Threat in Europe

Secretary Of Defense Nc
Namara told Senators today
that "the Communist threat in
Europe is the largest single
threat we face in the world"
ne outlined his departments
overall defense plans before
the Senate Armed Services
Committee, some members of
which were anxious to ask
him, about q more specific
problem, the menace of Soviet
arms and troops in Cuba.
Mr.. Mcnamara said the
Communist peril in Europe is
greatest because Western Eu-
rope, aside from the United
States, represents the most i'm
portant center Of free world
power"
1.-THE loss of Western Europe
to the Soviet Union would
drastically alter the balance Of
power in the world" he added.
Censored Testimony Issued
A censored version Of Mr..
McNamara's prepared testi-
mony, covering some 1853 pages,
was made available to news
men outside the closed session.
It appeared identical to one
supplied when he appeared be-
fore the House Armed Services
Committee on January 80.
But Senator Stennis, Demo-
crat Of Mississippi, said Mr..
McNamara will be open to
questions" about Soviet mill 9.
tary strength in Cuba and
seems likely to get plenty of
them.
Senator Stennis said the Pre-
paredness subcommittee he
heads will begin its concen-
trated investigation of the Gu
ban situation later in the week,
after Mr.. Mcnamara has COM
pleted his report on the mill
tary posture.
Mr.. Mcnamara said the re-
cent threat of Soviet missiles
and bombers in Cuba should
not now distract our attention
from the more fundamental
and far-reaching challenge
which communism poses to the
free world"
He listed the continuing
pressures against Berlin, the
undeclared war in South Wet
Nam. the Chinese Red attack
on India and Communist eff
forts in Africa.
Despite an apparent falling
out between Communist lead
ers of Russia and China, the ,
Secretary said, destruction of ,
freedom and free nations is
still the ultimate objective of
both" ... h
Hemisphere Assessment
Turning to Communist eff Z
forts in Latin America, Mr.. {
Mcnamara said lit is not an
overt armed Communist attack I
that is the real danger in this {
part of the world, or even Com &
munist sabotage and subversion
1.-The real danger lies in the 4
disbursement, disbursement |
and despair of the people as a
result Of the relatively slow
rate Of economic and social
progress"
THE main threat in Latin h
America today is that Of Com
rnunist subversion and indirect
attack, and not overt military ,
aggression from outside the I
hemisphere" he said. !
Civic action programs to
improve these conditions" he
said, ARE under way in Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia and ,
Honduras. with similar efforts !
planned for Ecuador, Ell Sal
vRdor, Guatemala and Peru"
senator Stennis' previous
statement that another block
ade OF Cuba may be necessary
II Soviet troops there cannot
be forced out by economic
means was topped by Senator
Goldwater, Republican Of Ari-
IONA. in another furious round
Of Congressional debate yester-
day.
Goldwater Asks Blockade
/ Senator Goldwater, an Air
Force Reserve major general
and q member Of the Armed
Services Committee, called for
q blockade Of all shipments of
any kind to Cuba. He said the
Kennedy administration ought
70 get UP enough gumption"
to end the Communist threat
TO the hemisphere "once and
for all"
Senator Goldwater sailed into
q statement by Senator Full
bright. Democrat Of Arkansas,
chairman Of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee, accusing
Republicans of endangering
Western unity by "devisive par ,
tisanship and irresponsible at .
tacks on our Nations foreign ,
policy" Senator Fulbright ,
named Senator Goldwater, SEN
ator Scott. Republican OF Penn
sylvania. and New York Gov.
Nelson A. Rockefeller.
Criticism Of Fulbright
Senator Goldwater said SEN
ator Fulbright's attack had "all ,
the earmarks Of an action has ,
tily ordered by the White House
in line with the current cam
paign TO shut UP all critics
Of the New Frontiers short
sighted and descriptive foreign
policy and In particular, TO ST.
lence all Republican opposi-
ton"
Asserting that RenrhIIcans