What a heritage we have, on the one hand, and what means for destruction on the other! How far we are today from Chaos, no man knows. It may be far later than we think. Until the time of greater enlightenment we know that a strong and forceful public opinion can be the result only of strong and forceful individual opinions. We are not, as yet, God-like creatures, but by making a supreme and prayerful effort we might become more nearly creatures like God. One small voice crying in the wilderness can be doubled and quadrupled into millions until, finally, it becomes the deafening roar of all freedom-loving peoples the world over. “The journey of a thousand miles,” the Chinese say, “begins with just one step.” If each of us will take that one step now, toward a better understanding of how to protect our country from its enemies, both within and without, America will remain the light to which the whole world turns in the blackness of its oppression. And let us each remember that, as individuals, “it is better to light one candle, than to curse the darkness.” In the words of our own beloved National Anthem: _“Oh! thus be it ever, when free men shall stand Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!_ _Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation._ _Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just, And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’_ _And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph_ SHALL _wave O’er the land of the Free and the home of the Brave!”_ EPILOGUE Deep in the Siberian mine, Keep your patience proud; The bitter toil shall not be lost, The rebel thought unbowed. The sister of misfortune, Hope, In the under-darkness dumb Speaks joyful courage to your heart: The day desired will come... The heavy-hanging chains will fall, The walls will crumble at a word; And Freedom greet you in the light, And brothers give you back the sword. ALEXANDER SERGEYEVICH PUSHKIN _Appendix_ THE WEDEMEYER REPORT ON CHINA AND KOREA _Submitted to_ THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES _September 9, 1947_ _by_ ALBERT C. WEDEMEYER _Lieutenant General, United States Army_ Paragraphs which have been deleted for security reasons are indicated by asterisks. [Illustration: Decoration] PART I—GENERAL STATEMENT