Kennedy Opposed to Recognition Of Communist Chinese Regime

"In my judgement the arguments are not sufficiently persuasive now to justify American recognition of Red China," Senator John F. Kennedy '40 declared last night. Kennedy also criticized the 41 U. S. students who visited Red China, saying that until official policy is changed towards China, students, "no matter how well-intentioned," should not visit the country.

Kennedy made the remarks in an informal meeting with Wellesley students and their guests after he had delivered a prepared speech to an overflow crowd of some 1,300 in Wellesley's Alumnae Hall.

While opposing student visits to China, he urged that the press be allowed to enter the communist country to improve "our communications" from it. Kennedy did say earlier in the evening that he would "certainly favor" the recent Russian proposal that Harvard and Columbia exchange students with Moscow University. He continued that he would support "any proposal of that type, particularly one which involved exchanges with Poland."

"Administration Leadership Fails"

In his formal address, titled "New Dimensions of American Foreign Policy," the Massachusetts Senator pointed to a failure of Administration leadership in foreign relations. "If initiative falters at the pinnacle," he said, "if Administration action is only reflex action, then foreign policy cannot help but fail."

He continued that our military assistance measures, particularly the Baghdad Pact and the Eisenhower Doctrine, had not been sufficient to meet Soviet tactics of "leapfrogging and infiltration." In the Middle East, he asserted, the Russians were taking advantage of a "new critical restlesness" which led people "to make comparisons with other ways of life and standards of justice." The United States, he warned, was coming off second-best in these comparisons.

Kennedy charged that the State Department was not putting sufficient emphasis on economic aid to the underdeveloped countries. He cited the fact that only ten per cent of $4 billion dollars spent abroad last year could be cited as "venture capital in economically backward areas."