2
free world of that of which they, them–
selves are guílty.
This is merely ooe example of how
Communíst goverornents work for
PEACE - and why THERE IS NO PEACE!
LATER, July 19:
The meeting between the secretary
for Foreign Affairs, General Carlos P.
Romulo, and myself took place as
scheduled thís morning.
1
feel quite confideot that no other
editor or journalist from the Western
world has had opportunity so soon after
Mr. Nixon's announcemeot to have a
personal talk with an official in charge
of foreign affairs in one of the leading
nations close to Red China in the Far
E
ast.
Right now the attitude of heads ot
state in the Far East are important
news. The Presídent's visit to Peking
will affect them more than nations in
other parts of the world.
1 Meet with General Romulo
The General had been looking for–
ward to meeting me for sorne time. We
both attended the San Francisco Confer–
ence, 26 years ago, where the charter for
the UNITED NAT10NS was drawn up.
We both were back
in
San Francísco a
year ago, on the 25th aoníversary of
that conference. The outstanding speech
given at the plenary sessions of that
conference, in my opinioo - and that
of many others - was made by the
General from the Philippines. He has
been a man of considerable importance
and influence in Asían and Far-Eastern
affaírs ever sínce.
First, he gave me his own news re–
tease, then going out to newspapers. In
it, he called the announcement of Presí–
dent Nixon's comiog visit to Chou En·
lai "a diplomatic breakthrough of great
sígni6cance to Asia and to the world."
Before getting clown to the important
subject of the coming visit to Pekíng,
the General told us of his recent visit to
Romanía. (Mr. Stanley R. Rader, our
General Legal Counsel, who usually ac–
companies me, was also present.) Wben
I mentioned that we had been extended
an invitation as guests to that country,
he strongly urged that we go.
1 asked the General for his opinion
of the meaning and impact on the
Asían peoples of the President going to
The
PLAIN TRUTH
Chou - and whether, like the story of
Mohammed and the mountain, it would
be regarded in Asia as a loss of face
unless the President insisted that Chou
cometo Washington.
"No, not at al!," he rcplied. "The
whole world knows wcll that America
is the world's number one power.
I
think it is of greatest importance to
world peace that the strongest world
power manifest humilíty rather than ar–
rogance. The world has become
polarized into two seemingly icreconcil–
able camps. This effort may provide a
means of accommodation for the peoples
in the two camps."
Miníster Romulo attached importance
to the self-imposed restraints exercised
by the United Statcs in its great power
- and the fact that Ameríca realízed it
has an obligatíon to the rest of the
world and must not use íts great power
any way it pleases. He felt that United
States power is so great that it can
af.
ford to take the first step toward co–
operation.
The Secretary for Foreígn Affairs of
the Philippines feels that the Presi–
dent's visit marks the beginning of a
new age, and the passíng of an old one.
1 asked the General about his
present
views on communísm, and whether they
have changed. He saíd he had to admit
to having changed his víews somewhat
very gradually over the past few years.
As alife-long, self-avowed anti-commu–
nist, he confessed to a partía! change of
thinking. That is, he no longer could
agree that every communist-influenced
oc
communist-dominated movement in
every remote area of the world was
ínspired and inJluenced by Communist
Russia or Communist China. lt could
well be a local movement engendered
by local conditions, and revolving
around local issues.
He reminded us of the insurgency of
many years' duration in the Philippines
and his government's steady efforts to
control that particular movement. He
was convinced that thc Huk insurgency
was local in origin, not inspired from
Peking or Moscow.
I asked how he felt about the so–
called ''Domino Theory," especially as
to its relation to the Southeast Asian
area.
"l was never convinced of the valid-
September
1971
ity of that theory," he replied. "1 have
never been convinced that 'as South
Vietnam goes, so goes the rest of the
Southeast Asía.' " The Philippines sup·
ported
the
Uníted States, and actually
supplied severa! battalions for the Viet–
nam front. He said that although it was
proper, and perhaps necessary for the
United States to protect what it consid–
ered to be its vital interests in that area,
he had ncver felt the Domino Theory
val íd.
1
told the General that
1
appreciated
his frank comments, even though
1
did
not necessaríly concur with all his views.
This, however, gives our readers a
first-hand report of the reaction of the
head of foreign affairs of one ímportant
Asíatic nation, sccured when the ncws
was fresh and hot.
Mankind Searches for Peace
Ever sínce the dawn of history,
natíons and their culees have worked
for PEACE - fought for PEACE - war–
red for PEACE.
W hy
have we never yet had any
WOR.LD PEACE?
World War 1, according to U. S.
President Woodrow Wilson, was
fought "to make the world safe for
democracy" - the war to
END
all wars!
There had been "the Hague Confer–
ence," and other attempts at uniting for
peace. But now President Wilson, with
altruistic íntentions, proposed the
Leag11e of Nations.
After the armistíce of November 11,
1918, the League of Nations was estab–
lished at Geneva. But World War 1 did
not END all wars.
The word "armístice" actualJy means
RECESS. And that is what in fact it was.
The opposing forces, rejuvenated and
re-armed, started the next round of
world war in 1939 - when the recess
became of age (21).
At the close of this round of world
war, in 1945, many heads of state met
at San Francisco to form the United
Nations. Once again, we had fought the
war to END ALL
WARS!
The United
Nations was going to prevent any sub–
sequent wars.
But more than 40 more wars have
raged on since. And wars are still rag–
ing. There was a coup attempted m
(Contimted on page 47)