MUST PAY PRICE OF PEACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 134, 18 March 1948, Page 5

MUST PAY PRICE OF PEACE

TRUMAN SEEKS CONSCRIPTION IN AMERICA UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING IS URGED (N.Z.P.A. — Copyright). (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 17. President Truman to-day proposed the temporary reintroduction of conscription in the United States. He also proposed the prompt enactment of a universal military training programme. President Truman said these ' recommendations represented “the most urgent steps toward securing peace and preventing war.” He described "the situation in Europe as critical, and asked for universal military training in addition to conscription. He said: “Until the free nations of Europe have regained their strength, and as long as Communism threatens the very existence of democracy, the United States must remain strong enough to support those European countries which are threatened with Communist control and Police State rule. We must be prepared to pay the price of peace, or assuredly we shall pay the price of war.”

President Truman, wl\o was addressing a joint session of Congress on the world situation, said: “I am here to day to report on the critical nature of the situation in Europe and to recommend action. Rapid changes are taking place in Europe which affect oui foreign, policy, and our national security. There is an increasing threat to nations which are striving to maintain a form of Government Which grants freedom to its citizens.

“The United States is deeply concerned with the survival of freedom in these nations. It is of

vital importance that we act now in order to preserve conditions under which we can achieve lasting peace based on freedom and jusi ■ tice.

“The achievement of such a peace has been the great goal of this- na tion,” continued the President. “Ah most three years have elapsed sinco the end of the greatest of all wars, but peace and stability have not returned to the world. We were well aware that the end of the fighting would not auto matieally settle problems arising from the war, but the situation in the world to-day is not primarily the result of natural difficulties which follow a great war. It is chiefly due to the fact that one nation has not only refused to cooperate in the establishment of a just and honourable peace—but even worse —has actively sought to prevent it.” - President Truman continued: “Congress is familiar with the course of events. You know 6f the sincere and patient attempts of the democratic

“But that is not all,” said the President. “Since the close of hostilities the Soviet Union and its agepts have destroyed the independence and democratic character of a whole series of nations in Eastern, and Central Europe. It is this ruthless course of action and clear design to extend it to the remaining free nations of Europe that have brought about the critical situation in Europe to-day.

countries to find a -secure basis for peace through negotiation and agreement. Conference after conference has been held in different parts of the world. We have tried to settle question's arising from the war on a basis which would permit of the establishment of a just peace. You know the obstacles we have, encountered. But the He-cord stands'as a monument to the good faith and integrity of the democratic nations. The agreements we did obtain, imperfect though they were, could have furnished a basis for a just peace—if they had been - kept. But they were not kept. They have been persistently ignored and violated by one nation. “Congress is also familiar with the developments concerning the United Nations in an attempt to build a world oi’der based on law and not on force Most members support the United Nations earnestly and honestly, and seek to make it stronger and more effective. One nation, however, has persistently obstructed the work of the United Nations by constant abuse of the veto. That nation has vetoed 21 proposals for action and in a little over two years.