Bolstering our article on the front page which maintains that our nations and especially their leaders, have adopted an ostrich policy towards Communist activity throughout the world, it has been noted that France and Britain are becoming decidedly uneasy over the role being played by American military men in the tiny Asian kingdom of Laos.
Laos, as you may know, is engaged in a civil war, pro-Western government against Communist-led rebels.
The American military men are members of the United States, Program Evaluation Office. They are there in civilian clothing teaching Laotian troops how to handle American-manufactured arms and equipment. They do not advise the army on strategy, however, this being forbidden by a Geneva agreement.
The French and British are uneasy. They want to adopt a neutralist attitude towards the Laotian affair. They feel that the presence of these Americans may lead to direct Communist intervention.
The facts of the matter are, the Laotian government is fighting for its existence as an independent nation. Should the rebel leader, Kong Le, win, then Laos would become another satellite of the Communist system. The Russians are keeping a steady flow of air transports dropping all type of munitions and equipment to these rebels on the plain of Jarre. There can be no question but that these forces are being aided by Communist military experts. Hence, to adopt a "neutralist" attitude towards this situation is simply to say that we are ready and willing to see Laos become another Red satrapy. This is how Communism is eating away the free world, bite by bite.
E. M.
Question: Is the correct object of the monetary system to facilitate the interchange of goods and services?
Answer: The modern productive system does not primarily involve interchange of goods and services. The fundamental factor in production is power-driven machinery, and you cannot exchange services between power-driven machinery. That is why it is incorrect to say that money is, primarily, a medium of exchange. Money is primarily a demand system, so that individual can demand from the productive system those things which he does himself contribute to it. ( another source ends with: the goods and services which that system produces, but which it does not consume.")
C. H. DOUGLAS,
The Approach to Reality, p. 26
The fair vision of the Christian family cannot be realized without a minimum of economic security.
Richard LOMBARDI, s.j.