KU Students Favor President's Action
Compiled by Blaine King
KU students appear to be solidly behind the policy announced last night by President John F. Kennedy in his address to the nation. The universal student reaction was "It's about time."
The almost universal student reaction was, "It's about time."
More than 35 persons were interviewed by the Kansan after the President's speech. They expressed concern over the issues, and many felt the policy could lead to a flaming cold war situation.
BOB CONSTABLE, Bennington senior, said he thought it "was about the only thing he (Kennedy) can do, even if he is a little late. The United States has sufficient stake, and the Cuban situation is so involved with the national security, that we should have gotten in sooner."
Richard Dyson, assistant professor of law, said, "If the military threat to the U.S. is what the President says it is, the action taken is perhaps necessary. But any action of this type, or any other action taken against Cuba just to get rid of Castro, or for any other political reasons, is completely unjustified."
But Tom Moore, executive secretary of the KU-Y, felt that the President had been forced into the stand by the American people,
Three professors will discuss the Cuban crisis in a Student Union Activities-sponsored panel tonight at 8 in the Meadowlark-Cottonwood rooms of the Kansas Union. Ethan Allen, professor of political science will moderate the discussion by John P. Augelli, professor of geography; Oswald P. Backus, professor of history and Raymond C. O'Connor, associate professor of history.
and that the President and the people should give more thought to disarmament.
"I suppose it's necessary," Moore said, "but I think the majority of the American people are at fault for forcing their President to take such a stand."
"WHEN KENNEDY spoke on disarmament at the U.N. a few months ago, the people did not rise up and support him. But they did support him on an arms build-up" he said.
He said, "we may be digging our own graves. We're putting too many of our eggs in the wrong basket."
Moore thought the blockade was something the U.S. could back up, but that the threat to consider a missile launched from Cuba as an attack by the Soviet Union was "bluster."
"This is a good way to bring on the horror of horrors," he added.
This is a good way to bring on the horror of horrors," he added. The question of disarmament was something the students did not seem to be interested in. The blockade has been declared, and the question now is "what next?"
BERLIN, INDIA, the Carribean itself, were all discussed as possible trouble spots where the U.S. might find itself faced with armed retaliation.
Riley Whearty, Topeka freshman, whose father is an Air Force lieutenant colonel stationed in Bonn, said it "was a possibility that the Russians would move against Berlin," in spite of the President's blunt warning that any hostile act would be met with whatever steps were needed. Kennedy specifically mentioned Berlin in his sweeping challenge.
Ron Clauer, Lenexa freshman, thought the Russians would "do something to drag Berlin into it," and Jon Ardahl, East Moline, Ill., junior, did not think the Russians would back down.
"I DON'T KNOW HOW they can back down and save face," he said.
Patricia Koos, Shawnee sophomore, thought that if Russian ships carrying arms to Cuba try to get through the blockade, we will have armed conflict off the Miami coast.
Nancy Schroeter, Shawnee Mission sophomore, said that "if Kennedy really meant what he said, the only way out is war—limited or unlimited."
She thought Kennedy's plan to take the U.S. case to the U.N. Security Council was "very impractical." "I don't think the U.N. Security Council with Russia present ever made any country abide by its decision."
Dolph Simons, editor and publisher of the Lawrence Journal-World, said the President's action was not the "sort of thing we'd like to see. When we say we're going to stop shipping and search ships, we must be prepared for serious consequences."
OTHER STUDENTS wondered what effects, if any, Kennedy's policy statement would have on the other side of the world, where India and China are engaged in what Franklin Shobe, Great Bend junior, called "an open war." Shobe said he "was disappointed because Kennedy didn't say anything about the Far East crisis."
Jerry Slayton, Independence, Mo., junior, said he thought the Indian situation seemed more serious than Kennedy's talk indicated.
While most students seemed to favor the get-tough program, and applauded Kennedy for "putting the Russians on the spot," there was some hesitation about the President's open threats.
Leta Cathcart, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, said, "I'm scared out of my mind."
There were whistles and applause in Carruth-O'Leary Hall, but resident Jim Cross, Prairie Village sophomore, said, "I just hope Kennedy's proposals are effective."
THE ONLY OTHER objection to Kennedy's plan was the timing.
THE ONLY OTHER objection to Kennedy's plan was the timing. A Lawrence resident, Robert Barteldes, manager of the TNT food products company, said he "wished it had been done four to six months ago."
Daily hansan
60th Year, No. 28
LAWRENCE. KANSAS
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 1962
President John F. Kennedy
Cuban Premier Fidel Castro
Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev
Russian-U.S. Crisis May Come by Nightfall
By Merriman Smith
WASHINGTON — (UPI) — The United States and Russia neared a potentially hot showdown in the cold war today as Communist ships plowed through the Atlantic toward a U.S. fleet blockading offensive arms shipments to Cuba.
The test of purpose and strength could come by nightfall. A defense department spokesman said last night the U.S. forces were expected to encounter the first Soviet bloc ships within 24 to 48 hours—by Tuesday or Wednesday night.
In a statement handed to U.S. Ambassador Foy Kohler, the Kremlin charged that the United States had taken "a step along the road of unleashing a thermonuclear war." It did not say whether Communist ships would attempt to run the blockade.
TECHNICALLY, the blockade announced by President Kennedy last night was not yet in effect. But U.S. vessels already were patrolling the Atlantic in the greatest crisis since Korea, and possibly since World War II.
In Moscow, the Soviet Union canceled all military leaves, halted discharges from military service and called a meeting of military officers of the Communist Warsaw Pact—the Red answer to NATO.
See full Cuban military story on page 3.
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS said they could find in the note no clue to Russia's intentions. Western observers in Moscow said the note, while harsh, appeared to designate the U.N. Se-
curity Council as the first test of the U.S. decision.
Diplomatic officials said U.S. ships and planes which swept into the Caribbean would not actually begin stopping and searching foreign vessels until the President issued a formal order proclaiming the blockade later today. But all was in readiness.
Normally 15 to 20 ships have been in the Communist pipeline carrying military and other supplies to Cuba. During the past few days, the United States had moved more than 40 ships and 20,000 men into the Caribbean area. All U.S. forces were on an alert basis.
THE SECURITY COUNCIL arranged to meet at 2 p.m., presumably to take up rival demands that it act in the crisis. The United States filed its request for a council meeting last night. Cuba retaliated today with its own request.
In other developments;
- The nation's civil defense organization stepped up activity in preparation for any nuclear attack. But its moves were far short of the goals set for any such eventuality.
- The stock market reacted to Kennedy's orders with a broad range of gains and losses. Trading was heavy and strength was apparent in such defense industries as aircraft, steel, rails and electronics.
- EXTRAORDINARY security precautions were imposed at the White House. They included a search of handbags held by women in line for public tours and the x-raying of tourist packages.
- The President called for daily meetings until further notice of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council—his top policy advisory group.
Peace Corps Will Have Convocation
Warren W. Wiggins, second in command of the national Peace Corps organization, will speak at a KU Corps convocation Friday, Nov. 2.
Raymond Nichols, vice chancellor of finance and chairman of the committee on convocations and lectures, and Robert Swan, Topeka junior and chairman of the KU Peace Corps committee, telephoned the Washington, D.C., Corps office Tuesday to confirm Wiggins' arrival.
The call was made after the convocation committee yesterday reversed their earlier decision and voted unanimously for an all student convocation with Wiggins as the speaker.
Swan that petitions signed by over 3000 students and faculty, indicated high campus interest in the Corps program and Wiggins.
World Expresses Shock At US-Cuban Situation
By United Press International
America's allies around the world reacted with expressions of shock today at the disclosure of the character of the Soviet missile buildup in Cuba.
U. S. diplomats in foreign capitals were busy yesterday and today filling in the chiefs of friendly governments.
European governments, gravely concerned at the implications, were slow in commenting on the measures taken by Washington to stop the buildup but the action drew prompt support from many Asian and Latin American officials.
American servicemen serving overseas listened to president Kennedy's words last night, aware that
the consequences could involve them directly.
Following is a breakdown of the impact in Europe, Asia and Latin America:
EUROPE
West Germany was the first nation to applaud President Kennedy's action openly. Other chiefs of state or government reserved formal comment until they had consulted their cabinets. Some newspapers decried the move while others supported it.
BRITAIN. A government spokesman, while declining to comment on the move, said the "Soviet build-up in Cuba will come as a shock to the whole civilized world." Prime Minister Harold MacMillan called
(Continued on page 8)