This purpose will require the cooperation of Congress in making careful analysis of estimates presented, reducing expenditure on less essential military programs and installations, postponing some new civilian programs, transferring some to the states, and curtailing or eliminating others.

Such related matters as the national debt ceiling and tax revenues will be dealt with in later messages.

8.  Works of peace

My last call for action is not primarily addressed to the Congress and people of the United States.  Rather, it is a message from the people of the United States to all other peoples, especially those of the Soviet Union.

This is the spirit of what we would like to say: 

“In the last analysis, there is only one solution to the grim problems that lie ahead.  The world must stop the present plunge toward more and more destructive weapons of war, and turn the corner that will start our steps firmly on the path toward lasting peace.

“Our greatest hope for success lies in a universal fact:  the people of the world, as people, have always wanted peace and want peace now.

“The problem, then, is to find a way of translating this universal desire into action.

“This will require more than words of peace.  It requires works of peace.”

Now, may I try to give you some concrete examples of the kind of works of peace that might make a beginning in the new direction.

For a start our people should learn to know each other better.  Recent negotiations in Washington have provided a basis in principle for greater freedom of communication and exchange of people.  I urge the Soviet government to cooperate in turning principle into practice by prompt and tangible actions that will break down the unnatural barriers that have blocked the flow of thought and understanding between our people.

Another kind of work of peace is cooperation on projects of human welfare.  For example, we now have it within our power to eradicate from the face of the earth that age-old scourge of mankind:  malaria.  We are embarking with other nations in an all-out five-year campaign to blot out this curse forever.  We invite the Soviets to join with us in this great work of humanity.

Indeed, we would be willing to pool our efforts with the Soviets in other campaigns against the diseases that are the common enemy of all mortals—­such as cancer and heart disease.

If people can get together on such projects, is it not possible that we could then go on to a full-scale cooperative program of Science for Peace?

We have as a guide and inspiration the success of our Atoms-for-Peace proposal, which in only a few years, under United Nations auspices, became a reality in the International Atomic Energy Agency.

A program of Science for Peace might provide a means of funneling into one place the results of research from scientists everywhere and from there making it available to all parts of the world.