Giving Away the Rope

Now that Communist China is to be “contained but not isolated,” what next? The answer seems clear; we are to build bridges of trade and aid between East and West. Why not? Trade benefits everybody. Besides, if we don’t get the Russians’ business, somebody else will. And then there is the balance of payments to think about, not to mention our obligation to the world’s poor, of which the Communists have more than their share.

But all this is by the way. The real point is that we must create better relations with the Communist foe, relax international tensions, undermine the material causes of Communism. Let’s take the first step and convince the East of our good intentions. Let’s both of us compromise: we make concessions, and they accept them. Of course, they may demand long-term loans to get things started, but that is to be expected. Then they can prosper, become fat and friendly, contented and peaceful, democratic and capitalistic. Behold, our problems will be over.

GN

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G. Warren Nutter

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Now that Communist China is to be “contained but not isolated,” what next? The answer seems clear; we are to build bridges of trade and aid between East and West. Why not? Trade benefits everybody. Besides, if we don’t get the Russians’ business, somebody else will. And then there is the balance of payments to think about, not to mention our obligation to the world’s poor, of which the Communists have more than their share.

But all this is by the way. The real point is that we must create better relations with the Communist foe, relax international tensions, undermine the material causes of Communism. Let’s take the first step and convince the East of our good intentions. Let’s both of us compromise: we make concessions, and they accept them. Of course, they may demand long-term loans to get things started, but that is to be expected. Then they can prosper, become fat and friendly, contented and peaceful, democratic and capitalistic. Behold, our problems will be over.