Khrushchev Dared To Test Prestige

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29268, 28 July 1960, Page 15

Khrushchev Dared To Test Prestige

CHICAGO, July 26.

President Eisenhower tonight challenged Mr Khrushchev to agree to world-wide free elections under United Nations auspices on whether people everywhere wanted to live under communism or capitalism.

The President made the challenge in ah address prepared for the Republican national convention.

At the same time, in calling for election of another Republican President, Mr Eisenhower hit hard at critics of his Administration’s defence and foreign policies. Mr Eisenhower reiterated the Republican campaign theme of peace and prosperity. “The irrefutable truths are,” he said, “that the United States is enjoying an unprecedented prosperity, that it has, in co-operation with its friends and allies, the strongest security system in the world, and that it is working ceaselessly and effectively for a peace with justice, in freedom.” In challenging Mr Khrushchev. Mr Eisenhower said: “The Soviet dictator has said that he has. in his recent journeys and speeches, succeeded in damaging the prestige of America. “Concerning this matter of comparative national' prestige, I challenge him to make this test: Will he agree to the holding of free elections under the sponsorship of the United Nations—to permit people everywhere—in every nation and on every continent, to vote on one single, simple issue? “That issue is: do you want to live under a Communist regime or under a free system such as found in the United States? “Are the Soviets willing to measure their world prestige by the results of such elections? The United States would gladly do so.” Mr Eisenhower’s proposal was aimed at countering the propaganda campaign the Russians had been waging against the United States since the abortive Paris summit conference last May, the American Associated Press commented.

Striking back at Democratic Party criticisms that his Administration had permitted the Soviet Union to become militarily stronger than the United States, the President said: “Just as Job had his boils, so we have a cult of professional pessimists who, taking counsel of their seers, continually mouth the

allegation that America has become a second-rate military power.

“This extraordinary assertion amazes bur friends in the world who know better It even bewilders many of our own people who have examined our seven and a half year record of military expansion, and who are not used to hearing their gigantic defence efforts so belittled.” The President claimed that the Democratic Administration of President Truman had neglected the nation’s air defences, had failed to make a real effort to produce ballistic missiles and had not produced a single modern first-line ship for the Navy since the end of World War 11. “Promptly after the close of World War 11, the Soviet Union began concentrating on missile development,” he said. “But the present Administration in 1953 had to start practically from scratch . . .

“The United States today possesses a military establishment of incalculable power, combined with the strength of our N.A.T.0., S.E-A.T.O. and other allies. The free world is prepared to meet any threat, and. by its retaliatory strength, to face any potential aggressor with a mighty deterrent"

The President observed that to belittle the might prestige, pride and capabilities of groups responsible for such a record “does such violence to my sense of what is right that I have difficulty in restraining my feelings of indignation.” “The world knows that this awesome strength is maintained for one principal purpose: to make war so completely unthinkable that any would-be aggressor would not dare to attack us,” Mr

“With such a deterrent and defensive power, we have the opportunity to work patiently towards the time when we can gradually transfer production from arms to the true needs of mankind,” he said. The President also took issue with Democratic charges that his handling of foreign affairs had tarnished United States leadership and prestige in the world. The President again called on

the Soviet Union to resume the East-West disarmament talks in Geneva, but said that the United States would never waver in its insistence that disarmament agreement must be accompanied by sound methods of inspection. “The absolute necessity of this is readily understood when one recalls that the Government with which we must deal in these matters has, since 1945. broken an uncounted number of solemn agreements made with us and other nations of the free world," he said.