Bowles Criticizes Foreign Policy As Unsuitable for New Challenge

Chester Bowles last night sharply attacked the implicit "isolationism" of United States foreign policy, and said that unless the United States responds to the great new world crisis the nation will be in grave danger.

Foreign affairs are largely a "marginal consideration," he said, which are thought of as "a series of arrangements to fend off the aggressive and intrusive forces in the world outside and leave us free to work out our own American destiny in our own way."

New Soviet leaders, on the other hand, have seized the political, economic, and ideological initiative, the former Ambassador to India stated, "by launching a program to isolate us from the people and natural wealth of Asia and Africa, and ultimately from South America and even Europe."

Before about 600 people at Sanders Theatre, Bowles completed his series of three Godkin Lectures, speaking specifically last night on "A New Political Focus."

He asserted that the attention of the political parties has remained focused upon diminishing areas of disagreement within the broad political consensus that emerged in response to the domestic economic crisis of the 1930's." Thus they have failed to grasp the "newer and infinitely more momentous challenge," he charged.

Bowles emphasized that we need to consider our relations with the world from a far broader perspective. From this broader perspective must come a new majority consensus which recognizes the fact that we live in a world that is a community, he said.

"The Democratic Party is at present in the best position to conclude such a new majority," he added. But he felt a failure to take a firm stand on civil rights might cost the Democrats that opportunity, by denying them the pivotal Negro support, and more important, their overall liberal status.

Excerpts from the first two Godkin Lectures by Chester Bowles are reprinted, beginning on page 3 of this issue. Tomorrow the CRIMSON will reprint excerpts from the final lecture.