Beyond the Cold War

Abstract

Before the United States can extricate itself from the untenable position in world affairs which it is cur rently maintaining, it must learn that it cannot prevent a third world war by means which would have avoided the sec ond. The Soviet Union is not a duplicate of Hitler's power- hungry fascist state, determined to obtain world domination at all costs. The Russians and Chinese would much prefer to devote their energies to their internal affairs; our policy of con taining and encircling the Communists has generated the very military power which we fear. We must learn, since we can not make a fortress of the Western world, to withdraw grace fully from our outposts. We must accept the changes taking place in the world and stop trying to force history into our own pattern. With the end of the garrison state must come a con version of that tremendous part of our economy currently spent on armaments to such useful purposes as education and slum clearance. Increased negotiation will lead to an increase of mutual trust, which in turn will lead to the international co- operation and trade which are such an inevitable outgrowth of modern technology. Under capable leadership the United States can do much to make the world a unit for the benefit of mankind, instead of, as it now is, a unit for holocaustic war.—Ed .