American economic policy is perhaps the only means of successfully winning Asia for the West, Walter W. Rostow, professor of Economics at M.I.T., told the audience at a lecture sponsored by the International Development Society last night.

After stressing the military, strategic, and ideologic importance of the Eurasian land mass, Rostow went on to predict that the central issue of the future would be whether the older West could live in harmony with the never Asia. "The answer may well depend on whether the U.S. actively participates in the Asian adventure or merely sits by and comfortably observes her modernization," he said.

To develop Asia more fully, rostow proposed a three-point program which included assisting the more backward countries, such as Indonesia and South Vietnam, to reach the point where an industrial revolution would be possible, throwing our full weight behind revolutions in India and Burma.

"It is not a question of hungry men making good Commies," he added, "but rather of the development of a feeling among Asians that their larger goals can be achieved along Western lines."