This is an excerpt from a speech by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1956 in which he explains his point of view on U.S. actions.
The inspirers of the “cold war” began to establish military blocs—the North Atlantic bloc, SEATO, and the Baghdad pact. [They claim] they have united for defense against the “communist threat.” But this is sheer hypocrisy! We know from history that when planning a re-division of the world, the imperialist powers have always lined up military blocs. Today the “anti-communism” slogan is being used as a smoke screen to cover up the claims of one power for world domination. The United States wants, by means of blocs and pacts, to secure a dominant position in the capitalist world. The inspirers of the “position of strength” policy assert that it makes another way impossible because it ensures a “balance of power” in the world. [They] offer the arms race as their main recipe for the preservation of peace! It is perfectly obvious that when nations compete to increase their military might, the danger of war becomes greater, not lesser. Capitalism will find its grave in another world war, should it unleash it.
What is Khrushchev’s view of U.S. actions? According to Khrushchev what will happen?
Khrushchev said the U.S. was setting up military blocs so that it could gain a dominant position in the capitalist world not out of a fear of communism, as the U.S. had said.
