Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-17
THE WEEK IN PERSPECTIVE
A New Tide Of Optimism

norman any Soviet military
force In Cuba.
"A Secretary Of State cannot
indulge in easy optimism" &C
cording to q standing rule
~ the present Secretary, Dean
Rusk. Observers noted last week,
however. that MIR. Rusk's outlook
is now brighter and that he seems
to feel the tide is running in our
favor.
In a speech in Los Angeles, Mr..
Rusk said: We are still locked In
a world struggle with dangerous
adversaries," and there remains
the necessity to remain alert and
to sustain our effort" but there
are reasons, "for a measure of
confidence and satisfaction"
Mr.. Rusk went into details on
his reaction to what Is happening
in various parts Of the world:
SOUTHEAST ASIA-In 1861
both Laos and South Wet Nam
were "gravely threatened" by
Communist guerrillas. Now, agree
ments signed in Geneva last sum-
mer provide "a basis on which the
armed conflict" can be ended in
Laos and the country unified. I'VE
are not convinced that the agree
ments are being loyalty support
ed by the Pathet Lao and the re-
gfme in Hanoi. The Wet Mini
still have military cadres In Laos
and the Pathet Lao have OBJ
structed the Prime Minister'S
(Souvanna Phouma) attempt to
effect a national reconciliation"
I'VE shall continue to bend all
our efforts to assure that the
Geneva Agreements are enforced.
For what could be a satisfactory
solution will remain precarious
and old dangers revived If solemn
pledges are not fully observed"
In South Wet Nam the Com
munist aggression attained very
serious dimensions in 1861. Now.
the momentum of the Commu-
mist drive has been stopped" AL
though victory is mot Just around
the corner" the guerrillas ARE
losing ground and the number Of
guerrilla attacks have declined
significantly"
Both the Wet Namese and we
recognize that this is a political
and social struggle as well as a
military conflict. The government
of South Wet Nam Is pushing
programs to improve rural
life and to provide better protec-
ton against Communist assaults
and terror tactics"
THE CONGo-There have been
many difficulties from the very
beginning, but the Congolese
have frustrated Communist de-
signs on their country. and the
several secessionist movements, Of
which Katanga was one and a
Communist leaning regime in
Stanleyville another, have been
unsuccessful. Congo is still faced
with serious problems, but the
foundations have been laid for
economic recovery and political
stability in this potentially rich
country in the heart of Africa"
BERLIN-"We believe that the
Soviet leaders understand that
when President Kennedy said we
had vital interests there, he meant
it-that we and our allies are
prepared to do whatever may be
necessary to protect the freedom
Of that city"
CUBA I'VE cannot be abso-
lutely certain" that no offensive
weapons remain, but we do not
believe that forces now In Cuba
represent a serious military threat
to the security Of this country or
Of our neighbors."
"As we have said before, we In
the Western Hemisphere cannot
accept as normal any Soviet mill
tary presence In this hemisphere.
Soviet military elements in
Cuba do not insure the peace Of
Cuba but poison the atmosphere
and increase the dangers. The
sooner this source of potential
trouble is eliminated. the better
for everyone concerned"
eApart from the weapons crisis,
the most important development
With regard to Cuba has been
the decline Of Castro as a symbol
Of the popular demand for eco
nomic and social reform"
COMMUNIST WORLD - World
communism has been losing its
appeal as more and more people
have come to understand its true
nature and detectives. It's fail
ures as a system Of society are
dramatized by the fact that 1t has
to string barbed wire and build
walls TO keep its own people in"
Regarding the Sino-Soviet rift,
I'VE should not draw too much
comfort >. for 1t is over methods,
not detectives. But the rift
subtracts from the strength as
well as the luster of the Com
munist movement"
NATO-"We understand the de-
sire OF our NATO allies TO have
part In their own nuclear de-
tense. Serious discussions
have been undertaken within the
NATo Council and with certain
OF the European governments"
Great Britain, Germany. and
Italy all have shown a desire 10
affiliate with the nuclear force.
ATLANTIC COMMUNITY-The
French veto Of Britain's applica-
ton 10 the Common Market was
"a disappointment" But, Il has
not left an Atlantic policy in
shambles." In the next few years,
II look forward 10 great
progress toward the building OF a
strong Atlantic partnership. The
tides are running in this direc-