THE SOVIET CHALLENGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000200430022-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 1999
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: November 6, 1957
• Content Type: NSPR

.A 1 NGTON STAR Of O--mss.
Approved For Release 2001/08/20 : CIA-RDP75-00001R000
The Soviet Challenge
are sparing no effort to make this a
memorable week in the history of the
Soviet Union. With tomorrow marking
the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik
evolution, they have already scored a
assive propaganda triumph by send-
ng Sputnik I and Sputnik II (with its
haggy little dog) hurtling around the
arth in orbits hundreds of miles above
is., Nor should anybody be stunned with
urprise if in the next few days they
To some additional things that are even
ore spectacular-including, possibly,
hooting a rocket to the moon--to dem-
nstrate their scientific, technological
nd military' prowess.
In a short-range sense, of course,
t would be a mistake to look upon this
I rospect as conclusive evidence that the
alance of power has shifted decisively
n favor of the Kremlin. - In all prob-
bility, judging from what our highest
uthorities have said, that is far from
he truth of the matter, and it will
ever become the truth of the matter
the United States and its most ad-
anced allies react to the great new
hallenge before them by undertaking
hatever may be necessary to counter
effectively. Certainly,' regardless of
hat our relative strength may be at
he moment, we cannot be negligent in
at respect without gravely imperiling
urselves in terms of the not-too-distant
- uture-a future in which the Russians
ould win a commanding lead over us,
lead that could make them masters
f the entire world, if we failed now to
o forward with the task that, these
mes so clearly and urgently require
f us.
Perhaps what stands out most of
11 in the current situation is the need
t rid our minds of any lingering doubts
out Russia's position as a big-league
ation in the field of science and tech-
logy. It is a country, unlike ours and
o her f ee lands, that can concentrate.
e erything on missile and kindred proj-
e is without reference to consumer de-
ands for such things as automobiles,
r frigerators or decent housing. More
t an that, the Kremlin has at its com-
and an immense amount of talent.
ence as en hasizedrecently by . Dr,;;.
o e-r cov lie, jr. assistant director of
1 tit' 'e'1Iigence Agency, 'There
i proue~ation` tlit .the Soviets are
c T`a'ble `o`ff` great accomplishments both
I peacetime and wartime In view of
t e d&nalnic drive of their entire scien-
t c program, we must expect further
r volutionary developments" from them,
o er and above achievements? like the
S utniks.
A similar warning has just be (n
sounded by Lester Pearson, Canad 's
former Foreign Secretary. As he h Ls
put it, "We had better awaken from o r
illusion of easy technical and'mater' l
superiority which we have been cheris -
ingbecause we have a car in eve 'y
garage, frozen food in every refriger -
tor and kissproof on every lip." Trite
enough, the West's standard of living,
as measured by creature comforts, is
tremendously higher than that preva -
ing behind the Iron Curtain, but th t,
very fact, that softening aspecOof o r
free ciiilization, can be our undoi g
unless we make sure that it does n )t
bring bn the sort of decadence th t
could make-us scientifically, technolo
ically and militarily inferior to the S -
viet Union within a matter of all too
few years. For they don't fool arou d
over there; they are not soft; and thny
ultimately may conquer us if we d -
sipate our energies on. trivia and 10 e
Approved For Release 2001/08/20 : CIA-RDP75-0000118000200430022-5