FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19 4 6, VOLUME VI



  For these reasons I think we may approach calmly and with good
heart problem of how to deal with Russia. As to how this approach
should be made, I only wish to advance, by way of conclusion, follow-
ing comments:
  (1) Our first step must be to apprehend, and recognize for what
it is, the nature of the movement with which we are dealing. We
must study it with same courage, detachment, objectivity, and same
determination not to be emotionally provoked or unseated by it, with
which doctor studies unruly and unreasonable individual.
  (2) We must see that our public is educated to realities of Russian
situation. I cannot over-emphasize importance of this. Press cannot
do this alone. It must be done mainly by Government, which is neces-
sarily more experienced and better informed on practical problems
involved. In this we need not be deterred by [ugliness?] of picture.
I am convinced that there would be far less hysterical anti-Sovietism
in our country today if realities of this situation were better under-
stood by our people. There is nothing as dangerous or as terrifying
as the unknown. It may also be argued that to reveal more informa-
tion on our difficulties with Russia would reflect unfavorably on Rus-
sian-American relations. I feel that if there is any real risk here
involved, it is one which we should have courage to face, and sooner
the better. But I cannot see what we would be risking. Our stake
in this country, even coming on heels of tremendous demonstrations of
our friendship for Russian people, is remarkably small. We have
here no investments to guard, no actual trade to lose, virtually no
citizens to protect, few cultural contacts to preserve. Our only stake
lies in what we hope rather than what we have; and I am convinced
we have better chance of realizing those hopes if our public is enlight-
ened and if our dealings with Russians are placed entirely on realistic
and matter-of-fact basis.
  (3) Much depends on health and vigor of our own society. World
communism is like malignant parasite which feeds only on diseased
tissue. This is point at which domestic and foreign policies meet.
Every courageous and incisive measure to solve internal problems of
our own society, to improve self-confidence, discipline, morale and
community spirit of our own people, is a diplomatic victory over
Moscow worth a thousand diplomatic notes and joint communiques.
If we cannot abandon fatalism and indifference in face of deficiencies
of our own society, Moscow will profit-Moscow cannot help profiting
by them in its foreign policies.
  (4) We must formulate and put forward for other nations a much
more positive and constructive picture of sort of world we would like
to see than we have put forward in past. It is not enough to urge
people to develop political processes similar to our own. Many for-



708