Even at such a relative side-show as the Communist-sponsored youth festival in Helsinki last July, the American delegation was able to note that two countries were the chosen targets of all propaganda: the United States and West Germany. The very consistency and crudity or the Soviet design is impressive: the old adage of divide et impera is practised with every available means, at times through brutal attack, at other times through the basest flattery. The goal at all times is to isolate the United States from Europe and isolate Germany within Europe.

As one attempts to think through the implications of the Cuban crisis for Berlin, it seems especially important not to generalize without careful analysis of all the factors in the two situations. It is understandable that in our first elation at “victory” the advocates of a hard line with Russia should assume that a similar, policy wilt work in Berlin. Actually, one must recognize that the blockade which obtained the withdrawal was a graduated use of force directed at a limited objective. It is by no means clear that a different procedure, for example carrying our grievance to the United Nations, would not have worked as well or better, particularly if one of our policy aims is to strengthen the United Nations.