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University Daily Kansan Tuesday, Dec. 15, 196
Europe in 1964
The old adage, "look before you leap," would have been a good guide for a number of European nations during 1964. This has been the year of the big leap by several European countries, but some of them are still in mid-air.
For example, the Russian October leap, which saw Premier Khrushchev become citizen Khrushchev, has left the Russian Bear wondering where to spend the winter.
CERTAINLY, hibernation in her cave-like domain is not as cozy as it was once. Wintry blasts are seeping through a western curtain of unruly satellite nations, and the blasts from Communist China are, or at least have been, downright frigid.
The ouster of Khrushchev, certainly the top development in 1964 Europe, hasn't seemed to be the answer to Russia's problems. Even though Russia is now led by the brilliant and businesslike tandem of Brezhnev and Kosygin, the problems are still there.
The temporary lull in Russian-Chinese hostilities doesn't appear to be of lasting quality, and one should expect the split between the two Communist colossi to widen again as they attempt to spread their divergent recipes for society's salvation.
AT LEAST FOR THE PRESENT, it is not probable that Russia will push the West too hard. She must clear up, or claim to clear up, the mess left by Khrushchev. Her energies will be channeled to reviving the Russian economy and strengthening her political ties with the satellites to insure better odds in the ideological struggle with Red China.
Russia has some soul-searching to do, and she is going to have to determine the path she will take under her new leadership. A new and liberal set, the post-revolution generation, is infusing new ideals into Russian dogma. Where she will leap next, and with whom, depends largely upon its influence.
To the west, France too is searching for a path. Under the leadership of Charles de Gaulle, the French are traveling the road they hope will lead to domination of Western Europe—a Western Europe independent of the United States. France indicated her independent posture during the year by recognizing Communist China and her belligerent attitude toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
FRANCE HAS COME OUT against Washington's proposition for a multilateral NATO nuclear force (MLF). De Gaulle insists upon a strictly European force, naturally built around France's adolescent nuclear weapons system.
The French president has threatened to withdraw his participation in NATO and the Common Market if the MLF is accepted by any other NATO nation.
West Germany, which hungers for the United States' MLF and a finger on a nuclear trigger, has been coerced by French economic threats into taking a second look at the MLF proposal. Chancellor Erhard knows his political life is dependent upon the happiness of Germany's farmers, and without France in the Common Market, the German farmers' bank account will shrink. Germany also worries about recent French overtures for better relations with Russia. Chancellor Erhard spends sleepless nights pondering a possible Russian-French axis which would leave Germany in a no-man's land between her two historic enemies.
NATO'S TENDENCY to splinter is the result of Russia's warming to the West. Without extreme Russian pressure, there is little to stimulate togetherness among the Western European competitors.
England survived the year, but is in a perilous economic bind. The Labor party convinced the people that things could be better and gained control of government from the Conservatives who preached "you never had it so good."
It will take all the energies of Prime Minister Harold Wilson, and some political tight-rope walking, to lead his country out of the depths of economic anemia. British strength is badly needed to counteract the growing importance of France in Western Europe.
OTHER COUNTRIES had their problems also. The island of Cyprus became a pawn and a blood bath between the Greek majority and the Turkish minority. Complicating the island's problems was the hard-nosed Cyprus President Makarios, who
wants independence for his island. Greece and Turkey, who both want to dominate the island, have hindered peaceful settlements. Standing in between were British and United Nations contingents who made efforts to establish peace between the two Cypriot armed camps.
Greece suffered through a period of shakiness in government as Premier George Papandreou resigned, but in a few weeks he was back to form a new and stronger government. Recently, the resignation from the cabinet of Papandreou's son indicates that all is not well in the land of the Hellenes.
DURING THE YEAR the Greeks' King Paul died and was succeeded by Paul's son, Prince Constantine. Constantine then allowed the Greeks some royal pageantry when he married Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark.
In Italy, Premier Aldo Moro resigned in July, but he too came back to form what he called a stronger government. However, the Italian political situation is critical as the Communists have made recent gains. The Socialist party of Pietro Nenni has displayed an unruly Marxist wing which Nenni cannot control. The Communist vigor seems to be a posthumous tribute to the late Palmiro Togliatti, Italy's Communist chief who died in August.
In East Germany, Premier Otto Grotewohl died in September. His place was taken by ex-Nazi Willie Stoph, a bitter anti-Westerner. His importance lies in the fact that he could replace Party Secretary Walter Ulbricht. Ulbricht has been reported to have cancer. It would be no bargain to the West for Stoph to gain control of East Germany.
IN RETROSPECT, Europe in 1964 displayed such typically human tendencies as self-interest that denied increased cooperation. France is the fly in the ointment in Western Europe; Cyprus denies better Greek and Turkish relations. Russia is so busy trying to determine what she is and where she'll go that further lessening of the cold war seems remote.
England has hope, the hope every new government infuses, but a miracle on No. 10 Downing Street is needed to make her thrive. Germany, caught in a trap between Russia and France, finds her freedom of action seriously hindered.
Europe thus heads into 1965 as schizophrenic as ever.
Robert Henry
Observations
PROF. ROSS E. McKINNEY, chairman of KU's civil engineering department, delivered a speech last week in Omaha that has many faculty members buzzing.
In short, he said that too many KU teachers are spending their time on basic research that has no immediate benefit to the state. He suggested that more emphasis should be given to applied research that would meet and solve some of Kansas' current economic problems.
It strikes this editor as a worthwhile suggestion. One might add a note to Prof. McKinney's remarks and suggest that some faculty members spend less time on research period and devote more time to becoming better teachers. Too many KU students, in my opinion, are being deprived of the education they have a right to expect from KU.
THIS EDITOR HAS HEARD COMMENTS on the anties of KU supporters at the Sunflower Double-header last Saturday night. Some people thought that KU students supporting Penn. State instead of K-State was a deplorable show of sportsmanship.
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Perhaps the support was vindictive—K-State was against KU the night before at Manhattan. It struck me as rather funny since I've never understood why it was unsportsmanlike not to support a sister school. Actually it's kind of provincial despite what the Lawrence Journal-World says.
THE SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS deserves special praise for the Christmas Vespers. The Vespers demand extra work on the part of students and faculty members just at a time when time and energy are becoming scarce due to last minute tests and papers.
An extra thanks to those who worked hard to bring Christmas cheer to the KU family.
Rick Mabbutt
Age of Crises
As 1964 began the nation rallied behind a new President as Lyndon Baines Johnson took over his first full year in office and went on to win the right to continue in that position in an overwhelming victory in the fall election.
And we continued.
A NATION UNITED in its grief for an assassinated President in 1963, united in 1964 in hope and confidence behind its new president's plea for continuance.
But the new leader faced a world of turmoil, in his own country as well as abroad.
The predicted long hot summer of civil rights proved to be nothing less than had been feared. Marred by virtually unpunished crimes of brutality and even murder in some areas and by street riots and undisciplined hysteria in others, the summer ended and the newly passed civil rights law faced new challenges daily.
THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE could only manifest the turmoil that was boiling up within the American people as they learned to accept what was for some a very foreign, but newly legalized system of values and principles.
But the nation was prosperous and the people had more and more time than ever to devote to leisure—topless bathing suits, the watusi and the Beatles.
The living standard was high but there were those that did not share in this opulence. The
new President's anti-poverty program got on its feet and plans were set in motion to spread some of this prosperity around to the people left out of the "good life."
However, the new leader faced equally challenging situations on the international front too. By the end of the year only one western leader in power a year ago still governed.
THE UNITED STATES leader had been lost the previous November and in the space of a twenty-four hour period in October, both the governments of Great Britain and the USSR changed hands. Only France's rebellious De Gaulle remained of the big four that dominated the world just a year earlier.
The might of the Atomic bomb spread to more and more powers and Red China exploded their first nuclear bomb and France, in their quest for independent power, grew in nuclear strength.
The smaller less powerful nations caused more than their share of turbulence. The seemingly never-ending Viet Nam guerrilla war grew as a threat to world peace, becoming more than the mere thorn in the West's side that it once had been.
The African nations struggled with world shaking problems in their infancy, as they strove to develop into full-fledged, adult powers.
And so we continued, united in the face of turmoil, hatred and violence; confident, prosperous and hope filled.
— Kay Jarvis
The best films made in 1964 ranged from children's adventures to Italian sex lore to Southwest Texas cowboys. The ones listed are those chosen as having the largest appeal and art value.
AT THE TOP OF THE LIST is that infamous off-screen love story "The Night of the Iguana" starring Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr and Ava Gardner.
In "Becket" it is Burton again but this time with Peter O'Toole. It is the story of St. Thomas a Becket and his struggles with King Henry.
"YESTERDAY, TODAY and Tomorrow" is a sort of trilogy starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroiani.
"Dr. Strangelove" gave Americans a weird view of what the American military might may be composed.
Films Show Diversity
Interracial marriage is the theme for "One Potato, Two Potato," a film that won many prizes at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
"Mary Poppins," a Disney production, lends a delightful air to movies this year with just plain fun and exuberant spirits.
ANOTHER DELIGHTFUL
Peter sellers in "A Shot in the Dark" is not as mad as he was in "Dr. Strangelove" but he is definitely funnier.
"THE VISIT" is another film probing the deeper emotions and feelings behind the traditional "woman scorned," with Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn in the starring roles.
movie that is fun and a spectacular is "My Fair Lady" with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.
Rita Tushingham, who made her debut as the unwed mother in "A Taste of Honey," outdoes herself in her new "The Girl With the Green Eyes."
In the same line with the older "David and Lisa" film, "Lilith is a story concerning a nymphoniac who is insane.
"The World of Henry Orient," again with Peter Sellers, is a spoof on the wicked world of a man chasing women all over the world.
"Island of the Blue Dolphins," an intensely moving movie, is about a small Indian girl who is stranded on an island in the Pacific after her tribe leaves.
—Linda Ellis
Daili' Hänsan
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EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Jim Langford and Rick Mabbutt Co-Editorial Editors