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<br />2026
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<br />In my humble opinion, the principal requisite of our foreign policy is
<br />that we have a foreign policy, Our position behind the 8-ball today is, in large
<br />measure, the outgrowth of impromptu improvisations and covert commitments on the
<br />part of a fumbling few, We, the American people, as a whole, need a policy, a
<br />comprehensive, considered, coherent, consistent, continuing, constructive, com-
<br />pelling common policy, Perhaps, at long last, we can build it around the Marshall
<br />Plan, If so, let us make the most of it.
<br />
<br />Let us realize that it is imperative to the success of any such policy
<br />that we be resolute, that we convince Russia and the world that our course is not
<br />the transient whim of a minority, but that it is a concerted, sustained action
<br />backed by the moral strength of the American people and the material strength of
<br />American resources,
<br />
<br />Consistent with this view, let us set our own house in order, let us
<br />banish our discords and disserlsionsJ let us dedicate ourselves to the supreme task
<br />confronting us, so that we.may dispel the belief, on the part of the Russian com-
<br />munists, that we are impotent and vacillating, that we will not measure up to our
<br />task, that we will soon fall prey to another depression, that Aderica is fertile
<br />ground for their cultivation, and that we can be undermined by subversive methods.
<br />
<br />Let us support our duly-elected government, regardless how dubious we may
<br />deem some of its dict1.Ulls, Let us not invent excuses to distend our bellies while
<br />Europe'S masses starve. Let us confine ourselves to cortstructive criticism, let
<br />us place unity above partisanship.
<br />
<br />In World War II, the whole Nation cooperated, regardless, and we won,
<br />It is even more imperative now that the whole Nation cooperate, to the end that we
<br />may win the peace.
<br />
<br />Question: In the title of y'our talk, you speak of the communist challenge. Will
<br />you discuss the significance of these words?
<br />
<br />Answer: Statism, or communism, if you wish to call it that, is in the nature of a
<br />challenge, It is a challenge as to the best manner in which to promote the wel-
<br />fare and happiness of mankind. A contest is staged between the principles and
<br />methods of totalitarianism, compulsion and atheism, on the one hand, and individual-
<br />ism, democracy, volition and Christianity on the other hand,
<br />
<br />We profess to believe in competition and to regard it as a stimulus to
<br />progress, Consistent with that view, we should not reject competition in this
<br />case--rather, we should welcome it.
<br />
<br />Let us accept this challenge, Let us welcome a contest in which America
<br />is the champion of free enterprise and Russia is the representative of communism,
<br />Let the rest of the world be judc;e. Let us abide by the result, But, let us
<br />fully realize the import of the contest, Let us fac$ the fact that we are the cus.
<br />todians of our civilization, and that we and our way of life are being put to the
<br />test,
<br />
<br />-12-
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