THE ARTICLES which appear on this and the following pages were prepared when it was possible to discuss the long-range aims of American policy under different conditions from those which exist now. However, if recent developments have drastically altered the terms under which policy is being made in the Far East, they have not made it any less necessary to understand the fundamental problems of Far Eastern countries. General war between the USA and China may not yet result. It is the peculiarity of our times to survive situations which in the past could only have, led to an explosion; not because agreement is reached but merely because embittered minds still recoil from the decision which unleashes total war. In these breathing spaces lies the last frail hope of discovering a durable basis for peace, and ignorance of economic conditions in Asia is no help in this endeavor. And even if relations between the West and Communist China should be entering on a phase of indefinite hostility, the strategy of this country will still depend on an accurate appraisal of China's problems and of our own power to help in their solution.The BULLETIN has always had two aims: Its main role is, and remains, to present to the public the opinions scientists may have on matters of public interest, based on their special knowledge of the scientific and technological ingredients of these matters. Its other aim is to provide scientists with material they might need for developing these opinions, by publishing documents and articles which present the issues as factually as possible, or, if wide divergence of opinions exist on these issues, by organizing symposia in which space is allowed for the presentation of the different points of view. It was in the pursuance of this second objective that the BULLETIN has, for example, printed a series of articles, some advocating and some condemning, the idea of the neutrality of Western Europe. Since the developments in the Far East have come into the forefront of world politics, lack of knowledge about the true situation in this part of the world, has prevented many intelligent people from forming an opinion on the best policy to be pursued there. The view is widely held that the disproportion between population and food resources is the main source of political ferment in Asia, and that the appeal of communism to the peoples in this part of the world is due to a system of land ownership that deprives farmers of the product of their toil and stands in the way of agricultural progress. The BULLETIN has requested several authorities to present their views on this and related economic and political problems. This issue contains four contributions to this symposium: We are aware of the fact that some of them are strongly partisan, and that not all points of view are as yet represented. We hope to continue it in our future issues. Our purpose is to help our readers to form their own opinion on two important questions: First, is it objectively possible for the nations of Southeast Asia to develop toward a higher standard of life and economic security, and, at the same time, acquire greater individual freedom and national self-rule; and second, if this double aim is at all attainable, what can America contribute to its fulfilment? Mr. Kahler, author of the first article in this symposium, is Professor of German at Cornell University.
Read full abstract
Feb 1, 1997
Yasuo Koyama + 1
Open Access