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Show i Stimson Talks Frankly About Foreign Affairs ! Mr. Henry L. Stimson, who served as Secretary of State under un-der a Republican President and as Secretary of War under a Democratic President, recently discussed the course of American foreign policy and suggested a "middle course" in dealing with the Russians. In foreign affairs, the former Cabinet member points out that we do not know whether the Kremlin policy is based upon "unreasonable fears and blasted hopes" but we must do what we can to "disarm the fears and disappoint dis-appoint the hopes." The Soviet attitude in world affairs is based, in the opinion of Mr. Stimson, largely on the belief that non-Communist systems are doomed. Consequently, Soviet policy "aims to help them die." Our task is to demonstrate that freedom and democracy in the Western World are here to stay. While stressing the importance of convincing the Russians that if they are non-aggressive they have nothing to fear from us, Mr. Stimson emphasizes that we must demonstrate the ability of the Western non - Communist world to survive and grow in economic ec-onomic and political stability. The question is our fitness to survive. Mr. Stimson says: "Can we make freedom and prosperity real, in the present world? If we can, communism is no threat, if not, with or without Communism, Commun-ism, our own civilization would ultimately fall." Another obstacle to clarity in American foreign policy, says Mr. Stimson, is a lack of understanding under-standing on the part of the people peo-ple that the nation is "forced to act in the world as it is and not in the world as we wish it were." Addressing himself more directly di-rectly to the foreign policy of this country, Mr. Stimson concludes con-cludes that any policy, "not framed with reference to the world ... is framed with perfect futility." He recalls his service as Secretary of State "in a time of frightened isolationism" and as Secretary of War "in a time of brave and generous action" and declares: "I know the withering wither-ing effect of limited commitments, commit-ments, and I know the regenerative regener-ative power of full action." The obstructionist attitude of the Russian Government and its unfriendly course toward the United States are longstanding, according to Mr. Stimson, who says that it began in the spring of 1945. He docs not see how any sensible American can travel in company with American Communists, Com-munists, but warns against "strong-armed methods" or a preventive war. |