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(Continued Jrom page 1)
is the only language they under–
stand. For them to carry out their
plan would have plunged them in–
stantly into nuclear war with the
U.S.A., and with aU U.S. forces on
instant alert, the U.S. would proba–
bly get in the first blow. Russia
backed down.
Then, ofcourse, the Russians accused
Mr. Nixon of calling the alert for the
purposeofattracting public attention
away from the accusations being
hurled at him in the Watergate syn–
drome. Sorne ofthe American public
believed it. But 1want our readers to
know what reaUy
did
happen.
So, you see, this Middle East war
and etfort to get a cease-fire criti–
cally involved the world's two giant
powers and even threatened an im–
mediate outbreak of nuclear war.
Another repercussion was that
America's European allies blamed
Mr. Nixon for calling the military
alert befare consulting them. To
have done so might have defeated
Mr. Nixon's strategy of stopping the
Russian move of its military forces
into the Middle East.
The NATO crisis threatens rela–
tions between the United States and
Europe.
lt
could trigger a Eu(opean
crash program to produce a "United
States of Europe" - a political-mili–
.tary union of Europe into one great
super world power - possibly
stronger than either the United
States or Russia. As this series of
crises erupted over the world, Japan
faced a critical national situation
oc–
casioned by King Faisal of Saudi
Arabia. EssentiaUy, he said: "Adopt
anti-Israel policy, or no oil." Japan
capitulated.
The new North Vietnam otfensive
against South Vietnam was another
fue-brand crisis.
In
the United States, we have had
"Watergate." Almost the entire
news media have done everything in
their power to put President Rich-
PLAIN TRUTH Febrvary 1974
ard Nixon out of the Presidency.
They have tried him,
without a scrap
of actual proof,
but with every pos–
sible question and inference of guilt.
They have infiuenced many mil–
lions. They have featured with great
emphasis every possible
question
as
to doubts and every
opinion
as to
alleged president ial guilt, while
minimizing back on page 17 or 33
every item in the President's favor.
The same thing happened to
President Abraham Lincoln. It was
after his assassination that he carne
to be acknowledged as one ofAmer–
ica's greatest presidents.
1 cannot, here, express any opio–
ion one way or the other as to Mr.
Nixon's innocence or guilt - further
than to say, it is
supposed
to be
American custom, in common de–
cency, to consider a man innocent
until proven guilty. And maybe, yes,
just
MAYBE,
history will record the
picture somewhat like it did in the
case of President Lincoln.
Today, as 1 write in Tokyo, 1 had
a 25-minute personal audience with
His Imper ial Majesty Emperor
Hirohito of Japan. One of the last
things he said to me was, next time 1
see President Nixon, would 1 kindly
give the President the Ernperor's
warmest personal regards -
this
in con–
nection with words of appreciation
expressed by both of us for the
friendly and close relations between
our two peoples and their govern–
ments. ·
Still further in this series of world
crises, as
1'
write, the Japanese econ–
orny has suddenly gone into a seri–
ous crisis within the past weeks.
They are saying here, "The Japa–
nese miracle is over!"
On this present trip 1 fiew into
Bangladesh, just fresh out of its war
sorne two years. 1 had personal
meetings with both the president
and the prime minister. The presi–
dent said, "Mr. Armstrong, 1 know
of your experience, your meetings
with many govemment heads, the
wisdom that comes with age and
experience. 1 want to ask your coun–
sel and advice. We need any help
you can give us." This was not the
fi rst time government heads have
appealed to me for counsel and
help.
President Chowdhury asked if 1
had had the opportunity to see
much of his country. 1 had only had
time for about an hour's drive by
car around Dacca, the capital, and
its outskirts.
"1 would like to know what is
your appraisal of what you have
seen of Bangladesh," he said.
1 hesitated. He said, "Don' t hesi–
tate. 1 want your honést opinion."
"Well," 1 said reluctantly, "after
driving around far enough to know
I had seen enough that was repre–
sentative of the country, 1 simp1y
had to utter an involuntary prayer,
in shocked dismay, 'Oh Etemal
God,
Thy Kingdom come!
and de–
liver this miserable country from its
wretchedness!' I'm sorry- I have to
be frank - but your country has
impressed me as being the most impov–
erished ofany I've seen, and I've seen
indescribable impoverishment."
When he asked my help and
counsel, I told
him
I would give the
problem much thought and any
suggestions or help I could.
I had noticed, 1 said, that despite
the wretched econornic plight that
was so evident, 1had seen in general
a n optimistic and hopefu1 ex–
pression on people's faces. 1 felt
every etfort should be made to give
the people encouragement and hope
- but of course the immediate need
is food , and then shelter and basic
needs of life. He said they knew
they had oil and natural gas, and they
are working on both - but need
financing.
lt
is just possible 1 may
have business contacts thatcould put
them in touch with financing for de–
veloprnent of oil production.
Earlier 1 had conferred with the
prime minister and executive leader
Sheik Mujibur Rahman, the "strong
man" of the country. He told me
what had happened befare and dur–
ing the war in 1971.
From March 15, 1971 , through
December ofthat year, three million
people were killed, six million
bornes were destroyed, and more
than one-and-a-half million farm
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