Foil the criminal schemes of the enemies of peace

(The following editorial appeared in the October 24, 1962, edition of Pravda and has been translated from the Russian.)

Alarming news has spread throughout the world: the American imperialists have adopted unprecedented aggressive measures, confronting the world with the threat of a global thermonuclear war. Having concentrated its Atlantic fleet in the Caribbean area, the American government has with unparalleled effrontery announced, in the person of President Kennedy, its intention to impose a naval blockade against the Republic of Cuba and has placed its armed forces in a state of combat readiness.

American imperialism, assuming the role of international gendarme, has for some time now been weaving provocative nets around the Cuban Republic. The events of Playa Giron are still fresh in our minds. The attacks of the American mercenaries, who committed arbitrary acts on the high seas and carried out bandit raids on peaceful towns and villages in Cuba, aroused the indignation of the whole world. The American ruling circles tried at that time to shield themselves behind false statements that they were not implicated in these matters. But now the cards have been placed on the table once and for all. The whole world can see that what is going on now is the logical outcome of the criminal plan inherited by the Kennedy administration from the Eisenhower administration and carried out on orders of the Pentagon.

The actions undertaken by American ruling circles constitute a scandalous violation of the elementary norms of international law and of all international customs. They are incompatible with the principles of the U.N. Charter. They represent a challenge to all peace-loving nations. Such actions constitute a direct revival of piracy and international lawlessness, which mankind hoped had been ended forever with the conviction in Nuremberg and Tokyo of the leading war criminals responsible for unleashing World War II, for crimes against peace and against humanity.

In embarking upon the new venture, the American ruling circles are behaving like cowardly predators. They know that the peace-loving nations will brand them with infamy, and therefore they lie and squirm. President Kennedy's radio and television address was filled with falsehoods and dissimulation from beginning to end. It could be likened to the highwayman's prayer before he takes to the road.

President Kennedy could devise nothing better than to direct against Cuba long-refuted accusations to the effect that it supposedly constitutes a threat to U.S. security. But the whole world knows that revolutionary Cuba -- a nation that has chosen the path of freedom, the path toward the building of a new society -- does not, and by virtue of the nature of its new social order cannot, represent a threat to anyone. All the Cuban people want is to secure their nation against the threat of the U.S. imperialists. The Cuban government is calling upon Washington to establish normal relations and to settle controversial issues through negotiation.

The American ruling circles can see that the ideas of national independence and social justice kindled by the Cuban revolution in the Western Hemisphere are finding understanding and support in the hearts of the Latin American peoples. They are afraid of the inexorable march of history. They are becoming convinced that even in their own country they cannot cope with the social problems born of the internal contradictions of capitalism. The position taken by the U.S.A. is evidence not of the power but rather of the historical doom of the regime of capitalistic exploitation.

The actions of the American militarists represent a crude form of blackmail that is capable of bringing down catastrophic results upon all mankind. The American ruling circles are playing with fire when they threaten war against the Soviet Union. They cynically declare themselves ready to rain down atomic and hydrogen bombs on the heads of hundreds of millions of people, to destroy what it has taken human civilization centuries to build.

However, the time when pirates could act with impunity is past. "If the aggressors unleash a war," the statement of the Soviet government published today says, "the Soviet Union will strike a mighty retaliatory blow." The Soviet government's statement is a stern warning to those who are losing their reason. The Soviet Union, the countries of socialism and the peace-loving nations have enough strength and means to put a straitjacket on the aggressors.

Thousands-strong meetings are being held all over the Soviet land. The working people of the Soviet Union are indignantly protesting against the reckless actions of the American maniacs. The Soviet people are united in their support for the peace-loving policy of the Communist Party and of their government. They are also unanimous in their readiness to increase still further their labor efforts on behalf of the economic and defense might of their homeland.

The Soviet Union and the countries of socialism have firmly stood and now stand on positions of peace in all their activities in the international arena. The countries of socialism are for solving all disputed questions not through military means but at the negotiation table, on a mutually acceptable basis.

But our people have good memories. We remember the perfidious intrigues of the aggressors who unleashed the Second World War, and we shall not be taken by surprise. We are building the bright edifice of communism for ourselves and for our children, and we shall permit no one to violate the peace. The Soviet Armed Forces, equipped with the best and most modern combat equipment in the world, stand guard over peaceful labor.

A wave of furious protests against the monstrous actions of the American military is rolling over the whole world. The mighty socialist camp and all peace-loving nations of the globe are with revolutionary Cuba. Let the authors of the criminal plans make no mistake. The countries of socialism are one in their desire to halt any aggression at its very outset. We have powerful forces and an unbending will to protect peace.

An appeal for the defense of Cuba against aggression is resounding on all continents, in hundreds of languages. In a short time revolutionary Cuba has won the sympathy, respect and love of millions of the laboring masses who are fighting for democracy and progress. The peoples of other countries see in the aggression against Cuba an attempt on their own rights and freedoms, on peace and security all over the world. The peoples cannot remain indifferent to the events in the Caribbean area. Energetic actions, united efforts and a common will can stay the hand of the American aggressors raised against peace. In the face of the reckless venture by the U.S. government, the peoples demand: stop this dangerous playing with fire, bring the American aggressors to their senses! The imperialist aggressors must remember that if they try to spark the conflagration of a world war, they will inevitably burn in its fire!

In the situation that has arisen a special responsibility falls on the United Nations. It was set up after World War II to stand guard over peace. The peoples have placed in it their hope, which unfortunately have not always been fulfilled. At the present decisive moment the United Nations has been confronted with a new and extremely serious test. The question is whether it fulfills the mission with which it has been charged by the peoples, and thereby justifies its true purpose, or whether there lie in store for it the fate of the League of Nations and the general contempt of the peoples. There is no third way.

Dark storm clouds have gathered over the world. In these terrible days one must look reality soberly in the face. The atomic maniacs want to play with the destiny of human civilization. The peoples warn them: It will not work! The criminal designs of the enemies of peace must be thwarted. The will of the peoples is one -- to defend and strengthen peace on earth!