Bae 8 3 0 BME OGRE] NAA — SONA N\N\\¥ TT ERE TTT NANA NAN _ _ [\ pny So 3 = Se — ASR 2) i RB) 7 by GENE AND MIRIAM GOFFIN Do you ever wonder what our foreign policy is all about? Surprisingly, it’s not all that hard to find out about. Just turn to the July 1947 issue of ‘‘For- eign Affairs” and look up an article called ‘The Sources of Soviet Conduct.” This article, written some 22 years ago, was by one George Kennan, then head of the State Department Policy Planning staff. Since the idea of the ar- ticle was to begin the reeduca- tion of the American people to a new foreign policy, Kennan signed the article “X.” It would not have done for a trial balloon to have had the name of one of the top policy planners in the Truman ad- ministration attached to it. Trial balloons almost invari- ably are attributed to ‘‘a high government source.’ The first problem one comes up against in studying the world of containment is that it mis- takes centuries-old Russian expansionism for Communist expansionism. Throughout Rus- ways been considered defensive. How else could she protect the vast expanses of Mother Rus- sia? Our foreign policy planners, however, assumed that the ex- pansion was part of the “‘inter- national communist conspir- acy.” When China became a Com- munist nation, we immediately began applying the same prin- ciples of containment to her. When any communist state at- tempts to expand, we will not permit that expansion as a matter of principle. No matter that we were de- nying the Chinese their tradi- tional sphere of influence in Asia. No matter that to the masses of Asia our policy to- ward China was a test case— how would the United States react to a needed political, a motivating force [1] The death of Annette Evans closely affects this community, for Annette’s influence for culture and wider horizons extended far beyond the confines of her native Wyoming Valley. She was a motivating force, working of late years through Wilkes College, but long before the birth of that institution of higher learning, a one- woman team dedicated to advancement. Belonging to one of the oldest families in the Valley, and endowed with this world’s goods, she soberly assayed the duties and responsibilities which accompany status, and fulfilled what she considered her obligations. Many women in her position withdraw into their own inner circle. Annette’s interests were as wide as the sky, and as deep as the sea. It is largely due to her efforts and her leadership that Wyoming Valley is considered a cultural center for northeastern Pennsylvania. HIX To THE POST: I just finished reading your editorial about the My Lai massacre. The whole episode of the mas- sacre is very sad. But darn it all, what about the massacres of the South Vietnamese, and at times, our soldiers by the Viet Cong? You don’t see our press and television making a big thing out of those atrocities. I guess it’s different, since our men were killed and didn’t do the killing. I don’t think the men accused of the responsibility of the massacre have a chance. Some one is going to have to pay be- cause the press has made such an issue out of it, and I'm afraid these men will have to pay the price. How many of the writers and commentators giving their two cents worth were really there? How can they say who is right and who is wrong when they weren’t there to actually witness the true facts. Isn't it possible the facts have become dis- torted? If it is true the villagers were participating in the war by making booby traps, etc., shouldn’t they be treated like the enemy, even if they are women and children? A grenade Tie DALLAS 20ST A non-partisan, liberal, and progressive newspaper published every Thursday morn ing by Northeastern Newspapers Inc. from 41 Lehman Ave., Dallas, Pa. 18612. Entered as second class matter at the post office at Dallas, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1869. Subscription within county, $5 a year. Out-of-county subscriptions, $5.50 a year. Call | 675-5211 for subscriptions. The officers of Northeastern Newspapers Inc. are Henry H. Null 4th, president and publisher; John L. Allen, vice president, advertising; J. R. Freeman, vice presi- dent, news. Editor emeritus, Mrs. T. M. B. Hicks: assistant editor, Doris R. Mallin; editor of the editorial Shawn Murphy; advertising manager, Annabell Selingo. sian history, ‘to’ expand has al- NN LLIB IUMHIImua \ NN 7 | — LLLDIN QA W N NN JBM MN NN nM hdc NN RRR SN ce NR NAN NN ON SLBA LON = Wax Distributed by Gos Angeles Times SYNDICATE the concept of containment. outdated and dangerous social and economic revolution against the traditional feudal- ism of Asia, this time repre- sented by Chiang Kai-Chek? Our answer was clear. We are not interested in real revolution anywhere in the world if its leaders happen to be Marxist. We are very busily applying a 22-year-old traditional foreign policy to situations where an- other answer may be called for. In Europe, immediately after World War II, containment worked—there it was coupled with the social and economic answer of the Marshall Plan. In Asia we merely respond militarily. In Asia, the real threat is not Russianmilitary expansion. The true problem is communist ideology. We have never known of an army that could stop ideas. We are very much frightened by the concept of an ‘“‘interna- tional communist conspiracy.” We do not recognize that the prime consideration in the new Marxist revolutions is not ‘‘com- munism’’ but nationalism. Nationalism has got to be the single” strongest force in the ‘underdeveloped world today. If a nation believes that a Marxist economic system will help it advance, then it will adopt such a system. The emerging nations of the thissa 'n It would seem that the U.S. Army is doing all that it can to destroy its own image as a body of clean cut Americans, risking lives on the battlefield to pro- tect the defenseless. Within a comparatively brief period of time, we have the Green Beret affair, in which members of that force, including the commanding officer, are charged with executing a Viet- ' namese who was suspected of to write thrown by a six-year-old child can maim and kill ‘as many Americansoldiers asone thrown by a 30-year-old man. Suppose—I say suppose— everything the papers and LIFE say is true—is it so hard to be- lieve our men can go beserk? How can we possibly know what these men suffer over there? They see their buddies killed. They have to live in bug-infested swamps and jungles and have to be alert at all times for snipers. They even have to be suspicious of women and chil- dren. I believe the public opinion on the massacre is going to be very onesided because so much has been printed and said to condemn these men, but very little has been done to try and understand the reasons why. Yes, it’s terrible these things happen, but it is war, is it not? I put this question to you: What if the Viet Cong were in this country? Do you believe they would not do the same things, maybe even worse things? Just to hear what they do to their defenseless prisoners makes me sick at heart. Maybe we do have ‘‘inhuman’ soldiers, but at least it’s not an inhuman army. DONNA STROSNIDER 133 Woodbine Road Midway Manor world are not interested in be- coming the slave of any other nation—of following any other nation’s political lead. These nations are only concerned with their own development. They cannot develop national identity by becoming the tool of some great power, whether that power be the United States, the Soviet Union or (someday) China. There are many problems inherent in our policy of con- tainment. It makes us appear to be in- sensitive to the necessity for real revolution in all the poor areas of the world. The poor people of the world are much more likely to relate positively to the struggle of underdog North Vietnam against the mammoth forces of the United States than to think that the United States is fighting for “freedom.” Containment is an inflexible policy. It has become tradition coated with emotion. We need the flexibility to change our minds in foreign policy. We have boxed ourselves into a corner. The dividing line between which: area. of the world is “theirs” and which area is “‘ours’’ has become increasingly unclear. In the fifties such an unclear situation led to the Korean War. No one knows just exactly spying for the Viet Cong; then the alleged massacre at My Lai, when a large number of women and children were said to have been shot down while standing around their burning village ; then a reported incident of pushing Viet Cog prisoners from a helicopter into thin air because they wouldn’t immedi- ately talk. Meanwhile, safely in the ' United States, a U.S. general gathered up arms confiscated while criminals by various po- lice forces and sold them to gun dealers, while a number of army sergeants, also in safe berths, rolled up huge fortunes for themselves by pocketing money from enlisted men’s service clubs in various parts of the world. Here in the United States, a civilian auditor turned up Air Force abuses which were cor- rected and saved the taxpayers millions of dollars, for which he was rewarded by getting fired from his job. Choosing between the faults of soldiers at the front and those in bases removed from any danger, there is no doubt in my mind that the most indefensible are the sergeants and general who utilized their Army posi- tions“ prey on the taxpayers (and on their fellow soldiers. "According to a recent news report these ‘‘contlicts of in- terest, bribery, kick-backs and other criminal actions or viola- tions of regulations” may not even be punished. The Green Berets, who did nothing but execute a man they were convinced was a dan- gerous spy who was telling the enemy how more Americans could be killed, were held up to disgrace and a blot was put on their future career. The My Lai incident was less defensible, at least according to present allegations, but again. whatever happened was in the heat of war and it is likely that the event would have a dampen- ing effect on other villages [friendly to the Viet Cong. Prob- ably they would think awhile before setting out with their booby traps for American sol- diers. where the dividing line is in Asia and the Middle East any more. For example, the Rus- sians have more ships in the Mediterranean Sea than the United States. The danger of a mistake is obvious. China makes containment a dangerous policy. She does not play the game. She feels all the dividing lines were drawn be- fore she has a chance to get her piece of the pie. China is willing to risk nu- clear war—after all, she has the least to lose. China is willing to take risks which bourgeois Russia will not. Containment is composed of two elements—prevention and retaliation. The American pub- lic is much more likely to re- spond positively to the retalia- tion part. Prevention sounds too much like ‘‘another foreign aid give-away.” It’s not nearly so attractive as a positive military policy. Lastly, containment does not recognize the possibility that the United States and the Soviet Union could come to some sort of agreement on world peace. Containment used to maintain peace by maintaining tension between the two greatest pow- ers. Today its main function is to maintain tension. We do not need a policy designed to main- tain tension. ! U.SArmy is giving itself a bad image Lastly, the helicopter story, if true, and there is a great deal of doubt as to whether it is or not, was done by men whose own lives were in constant dan- ger and it is quite possible that if the act brought some worth- while information, American lives were saved. After all, in war they play for keeps and the idea is firstly to win and secondly to gain a reputation as gentlemen. North Vietnam and the Viet Cong do it that way and if any- one wants to read about atroci- ties all they have to do is scar. the reports of their actions in Hue, when they briefly overran that city. They killed South Vietnamese civilians by hun- dreds. If that isn’t enough, al- most daily you can read about a bomb tossed onto a crowded street, Killing men, women and children who just happened to be in range. And those atrocities, like the atrocities committed by Ger- many, Russia and China during the second World War, were carried out as national policy. The so-called My Lai mas- sacre was definitely not the policy of our government but for whatever truth there is in the reports, a case of normal men gone amok in battle. 1 have no doubt that many similar massacres occurred in other wars of the United States, but were simply not reported. Maybe they should have been, but at least we won them and that, in war, is the critical point. : The question is how much re- porting should be allowed in any war. Recognizing that some reporting puts the enemy in possession of information that may make it easier. to defeat us (and take lives) there has been censorship in past wars. In this one, there seems to be little or none. The truth is that publica- tion of these battlefield irregu- larities helps our enemies by providing them with propaganda fodder which helps. their world- wide campaign for, in effect, letting the United States beat continued on PAGE 7 | From by HIX It was probably the homeli- est little pug dog in the world, but it was the darling of the three maiden ladies of uncer- tain age who pampered it with daily baths of cashmere bou- quet toilet soap, cut down their own intake of protein so that it might have ground meat, held it in their laps, turn and turn about, and told it in loving tones that it was the most beautiful dog in Old Baltimore. It wheezed, it was sadly crip- pled, its dripping pink plush tongue lolled from its mouth, its eyes bulged, its toenails went click-click-click on the floor when it left the comfort of its satin cushion or a warm lap, and headed for the kitchen where its handmaidens awaited its pleasure. Each Christmas, the three maiden ladies decorated a Christmas tree. The little dog was the only child they would ever have, and for him they made merry. The three elderly gentlemen who paid gentle court on Tuesday and Friday evenings, sitting sedately in the parlor and leaving promptly at ten o’clock, assisted in the rite for they felt a family interest in the little pug dog. Mounting the stepladder, they garnished the cedar tree with tinsel and twinkling stars and brightly colored balls, attach- ing them to the branches with trembling hands. They dropped to their knees and smoothed the green sawdust about the base of the tree, brushing it gently from the sur- face of the mirror lake, placing the tiny white swans in a row, making a place where the three little metal deer could drink from the still waters. Small houses clustered in the background. Under the lifted roof of each little house, a tiny candle waited for the taper which would, for one brief moment, bring the village to life. It was the privilege of the eldest sister to light the candles, and of the eldest suitor to enclose the Christmas garden with the little green fence. To the younger sister of the family was accorded the honor of holding the little pug dog up to the tree to admire the spark- ling ornaments. To the middle sister, her accustomed place on the organ stool, primed to play “Joy to the World” as the long taper touched the little candles and the houses glowed. The eldest suitor guarded the bucket of water which might be FORTY YEARS AGO" The Dallas Rotary Club pre- Pillar To Post sented 17 Christmas baskets to . needy families throughout the area. Beginning Dec. 28, Wesley Himmler announced, the Him- mler Theatre in Dallas would show all called into action. The next to eldest gentleman turned the - pages of the tattered book of carols. The youngest looked with restrained affection upon the youngest sister and the little dog. Love warmed the room, fold- ing in its embrace the rubber plant, the crayon portraits, the crocheted antimacassars on the rigid sofa and the black walnut chairs. The candles guttered and extinguished themselves in pools- of melted wax, and the clock struck ten. There came a time when even love could not keep the litije dog alive. He was gasping no his eyes rolling and his whole quivering little body begging for release. For the last time the familiar ritual took place, for hope is hard to abandon. He was held up to the Christmas tree. ii tender arms as the candles burst into their tiny flames and Joy to the World wheezed from the parlor organ. After he died, life was no longer worth living for the three maiden ladies. They withered quietly away, one after the other, until only the youngest was left. Only one suitor called on Tuesdays and Fridays, a desolate couple in the Victorian parlor haunted by memories of two other genteel couples and a little dog with clicking toenails. On Christmas Eve, the little lady quietly closed her eyes, said she was very tired, and never opened them again. Ten o'clock chimed from the mantel clock, and the suitor rose to leave as was his custom. Habit was strong, but he could not leave Miss Ella sleeping on the sofa. He waited with her for what he knew was to come. It was the hour of midnight, and Christmas bells floated in the frosty air, when he realized that she was no longer with him. He was alone in the world, / and his eighty-eight years weighed heavily upon him. He closed the door gently behing him for the last time, and ¥. stumbled down the white mar- ble steps. Far Ag the two-mile ‘lengtn x « ¥verbrook Ave., who had complained about the State Highway Department’s " failure to ash or clear their : ; i had talking pictures. . On the marquis for the current | week was “The Girl in the Glass Cage,” featuring Carroll Nye, : and Coconuts,” with the Marx Brothers. Ralph Grey planned to give his diminutive red bi-plane, highway were pleased: During ! a second snow storm, the crews , cleared their promptly. A fire, believed to have been started by skaters who broke into the building to warm them- roads , selves, destroyed the summerg ! home of Richard Horton, Nanti- “Sunny Boy,” trial flights from Harveys Lake as soon as the ice was thick enough. In’ earlier tests, the pilot made several astonishing 600 feet hops with the plane. The two young Tunkhannock girls feared victims of a white slave ring were picked up in Oklahoma City, Okla., by po- lice there. Although two men with them were arrested and charged with violating the Mann White Slave Law, a grand jury failed to indict the men as the girls refused to testify against their abductors and claimedthattheywentwith them of their own volition. Another “Dollar dinner” which would serve four included in its menu tomato soup $.09, fried sausage $30, red-hot apple sauce $.10, bread and butter $.20, mashed potatoes $.10, peach and raisin pie $.20, cafe noir $.05. ‘‘Incidentals’” were . given as costing $.06. THIRTY YEARS AGO Rebecca Monk, who was born on Christmas Eve, 1858, died on Christmas Day. Mrs: Monk had lived in Dallas since 1888. Approximately 3000 parcels of real estate were scheduled to be sold by the county treasurer on Feb. 1, in a move to force col- lection of delinquent taxes. coke. Married: Dorothy Karschner to Russell Steele. Died: Mary Cragel, 79, Sweet Valley; Mrs. Andrew Race, Beaumont ; Helen Gilroy, + 28, Sweet Valley. “TWENTY YEARS AGO Babson’s report called for further decline in business in 1950 with suburban real estate holding its own and perhaps rising in value. Sweet Valley homes were blazing with Christmas lights, competing for $100 in prizes offered by the business associa- tion. Married: Margaret Mericle to Arthur B. Kitchen. Died: Robert Coolbaugh, 86, Orange; Gertrude Smith, 66, Kunkle. TEN YEARS AGO Kingston Township held an open house in its new municipal building located in the defunct Veterans’ Association Building. Roy Bloom, Demunds Road, was stricken with a heart attack after summoning a minister for his dying friend, Charles Anton. Two Sweet Valley ministers and their wives—the Rev. and Mrs. Kirby Jones and the Rev. andMrs.W.B.Hughes—celebra- ted their wedding anniversaries after church services with a festive late dinner together. EE + Fm OQ OLS OD WM yy << WN a =a NO OY eT CP pd OWL ITN ~~ NN OO =n =~ + a
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers