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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, March 25, 1964
France in Mexico
French President Charles de Gaulle's ambition to gain world power popped up once again last week when he hailed the achievements of the Mexican people and offered them friendly help. The desire was first evident when he vetoed Great Britain's entry to the European Common Market; it was later seen in his recognition of Red China.
AFTER ESTABLISHING FRENCH influence over Southeast Asia, especially over Communist China, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Pakistan, General de Gaulle has turned toward the Latin American countries, of which Mexico was the first target. The following targets are Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, which he will visit in September.
In his recent visit to Mexico, De Gaulle proposed a "massive scientific-cultural-technical exchange program" between France and Mexico. "The hero of the freedom and grandeur of the French people," as Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos called him (De Gaulle), offered a hand to Mexico in order to step forward into a changing world.
"The world is in transformation," he told the Mexican people in Spanish language—the device which the General very often uses to convince people abroad. "Nothing is more important than cooperation among countries like ours."
The French President's visit was not at all a failure. The 73-year-old leader spoke from the
presidential balcony overlooking Constitution Plaza. This was an honor for him, since he was the first chief of state ever to speak from that place. Also, he was the first French president ever to visit a Latin American nation. It is believed that he was successfully able to make some business transactions with President Lopez Mateos.
MR. DE GAULLE'S TRIP has raised a question about U.S.-Mexican relations. Many U.S. political leaders and critics believe the trip was a French propaganda move to create special relations between France and Mexico in order to put an end to or diminish the relationship between Mexico and its neighboring nations.
But this does not seem true since the U.S. beats France both in foreign aid and trade. Mexico receives approximately $1 billion foreign aid from the U.S. in contrast to $150 million from France. Last year, Mexican exports to the U.S. were valued at $944 million while exports to France were worth $32.1 million.
Whatever his reasons may be, it is certain that Mr. de Gaulle's purpose was to spread French influence in Latin American countries and create close trade, political, and cultural ties with the Latin Americans. General de Gaulle also dreams of a "united and renovated Latin World," perhaps under French sponsorship.
- Vinay Kothari
The People Say...
To the Fling Springer
Margaret Dear, we're sending our humble apologies
For violating the precious, sacred
greekologies;
We realize now we surely must have been pnitwits
To forget that only KU Greeks can have picnics.
And we'll have to admit that we just hadn't thought before
That a duck race is quite the same as a tug-of-war.
And all those who aren't uncultured impossible Freaks
Know that laughing and singing and playing are solely for Greeks.
So we'll give up the ducks and races and showery;
We hate to force you to write such lousy poetry.
Women of Watkins
Unemployment
You had an editorial entitled "Unemployment" on March 20 that begins with "Poverty lurks in the midst of plenty . . ." As relating to that editorial, my letter should begin "Ignorance lurks in the midst of education . . ."
It is hard to tell if the author's name- Vinay Kothari -is that of a male or female (it is no doubt a male, but the logic is too female) -but, according to the basic thought of the thing, it must have been written by someone who has never had to work and who is writing for those who don't.
Oh, the brilliance of it all—"Seventy percent of the whole student body is jobless"—but wait—"more than ten percent is willing to work"—ahem—"provided there are good paying jobs available or
better—white collar—jobs available." Who in the hell wouldn't be willing to work for those jobs? Why are we fiddling around in school if not for those? But again there is something subtle here, people. Why are not these people working if they are willing?
Well, the editor says that many students, enrolled and registered at KU with the hope of obtaining a So why didn't they try to get their job on campus, are disappointed. jobs before they enrolled—like in the summer? It is often advisable to apply for a job before one goes to work. Then again, if they can't get a job on campus, they might try off campus—I mean, that is just a suggestion.
Vinay Kothari tries to answer by saying Lawrence does not have "these particular types of jobs" (whatever they are). I have found that the jobs in town do exist if one wishes to apply. You see, there is an unclassified section in the Journal World which offers jobs quite often. And if not there, the University Employment Agency has a list. People go there and ask and find mostly dishwashing jobs in dorms and fraternities. These jobs pay about sixty cents per hour which is poor—but, if it is a matter of leaving school for financial reasons, these jobs are quite acceptable. He, she, it (the editor) mentions the terrible pay of Watson and the Kansas Union. The jobs are often taken by high school students which is too bad; however, jobs around town pay a dollar per hour. And these jobs can be found if they are wanted (even if they are not listed).
"We Can Cut Down A Little More Some People Are Still Getting Their Mail On Time"
This brings us to the main thesis of the editorial—“The problem has arisen principally because some students want only particular kinds of job.” What more is there to say? How does one say anything after this? What one means by such an atrocious statement is that these students do not actually need a job but that, if they could get one like “this,” they would have a little extra pocket money (like the high school kids). And these are just the kind of people who would get the jobs instead of those who need them.
The editor has several solutions to the problem which completely contradict the rest of the editorial. Time would be wasted even more by commenting on them. But the solution is that "let's hope" that from now on persons stop sympathizing with lazy Wishforts and stop writing public articles in ignorance.
John K. Danenbarger
Dr. Strangelove 'Blasts' Nuclear Age Insanity
In "Dr. Strangelove," producer-director Stanley Kubrick ("Paths of Glory," "Lolita") has dealt with one of the most important issues of our time: The Bomb. The film is based on the perfectly serious novel "Red Alert," which Kubrick had intended to film in a perfectly serious manner. But in adapting it he discovered that if he removed all of its absurd and paradoxical elements the realism would be lost too. So an entirely different approach was used—and this "nightmare comedy" was the result.
We may comfort ourselves with the thought that it is improbable that a psychotic general, obsessed with the idea that fluoridation is a communist plot—and there are people who believe that—would send a squadron of bombers to destroy Russia and the rest of the world as a result. But beneath all the satire there is a nagging veracity that leaves us not a little bit uncomfortable.
KUBRICK'S PRESENTATION, more than just comic, is wildly satirical and unquestionably funny. But at the same time it is close enough to reality to make us consider the problem of the Bomb (especially in the hands of human beings) in other than the usual vague and abstract terms.
Kubrick's approach to "Dr. Strangelove" is daring and uncompromising and each of its elements bears the stamp of his direction. The screenplay and dialogue are well written and form a sound base for the film. Its humor, far superior to that in the usual Hollywood comedy, raises it to the level of original satire and at that probably one of the best in a good many years.
MOST SIGNIFICANT, however, his choice and handling of actors are almost without fault. Of course, one expects Peter Sellers to put in a good performance even in three roles. But George S. Scott as General "Buck" Turgidson is equally impressive.
Because Kubrick is a former still photographer, his films are always well photographed: this one is no exception. Witness for example the appropriate use of a newsreel style photography during the battle sequences at Burpclson Air Base.
K
Stanley Kubrick has thus produced one of the most exciting and interesting American films to be made in quite some time. It should establish him as one of our most significant directors.
KU given
KU tional Summ teachii school
- Byron Leonard
War Objectors Win N.Y. Court Case
The U.S. Court of Appeals in New York has recognized the right of an individual to refuse military service if it conflicts with his conscience, even if he does not affirm belief in a supreme being. The three-man court, in an important test case, reversed the conviction of Daniel Andrew Seeger for violating the Selective Service Act by refusing induction.
KU NSF ships. to the was schoo
THE ACT, as amended by Congress in 1948, requires a conscientious objector to prove that his religious faith includes belief in a supreme being. Seeger, who comes from an "exceptionally religious" Roman Catholic family—two of his uncles are priests—who is employed by the American Friends Service Committee, refused to assert belief or disbelief in the deity. He opposed war as a betrayal of freedom and humanity "and more important . . . unethical."
IN dents Fello
JUDGE KAUFMAN said that among such well-established religious sects as Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, and Secular Humanism, a belief in a supreme being is not taught. He held therefore that Selective Service requirement of such a belief was, in effect, discriminatory under the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.
The Court decided, in an opinion written by Judge Irving R. Kaufman, that when Seeger "insists he is obeying the dictates of his conscience . . . it would seem impossible to say with assurance that he is not bowing to 'external commands' in virtually the same sense as is the objector who defers to the will of a supernatural power."
Amendment. If this decision is upheld eventually by the Supreme Court, the restricted definition of "conscientious" objector prescribed by Congress will be set aside and the individual conscience will become, as it should, the true test of the objector.
- The Progressive
Daili Hänsan
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The fellow student
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