PRESIDENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25447, 19 March 1948, Page 7

PRESIDENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS

“I regard it as my duty, therefore, to recommend to Congress those meashres which in my judgment are best to give support to the free Jmocratic nations of Europe and to ©prove the solid foundation of our •JQ national strength. First, I recommend that Congress geedily complete its action on the European recovery programme. That Uogramme is the foundation of our £°hcy of assistance to Europe’s Tree pilons. The prompt passage' of that programme is the most telling contribution we can now make toward Peace. “Second, I recommend the prompt enactment of universal training legis«uon. Until Europe’s free nations. u ve regained their strength, and so 35 Communism threatens the existence of democracy, the States must remain strong to support those European ountries which are threatened with Jjommunist control and police-state l J2'J )eliev e we have learned the imof maintaining military kF" as a means of preventing war. 2®. have found that a sound military srUT 1 18 necessary in peace if we Sa® remain at peace. Aggressors in the past, relying on ’naL apparen t lack of military force, precipitated war. Alto°hgh they have been led to de-

struction by their misconception of our strength, we hgve paid a terrible price for our unpreparedness. “Universal training is the only feasible means by which the civilian components of our armed forces can be built up to the strength required if we are to be prepared for emergencies. Our ability to mobilise large numbers of trained men in an emergency could forestall future conflict, and with othev measures of national policy could restore stability to the world. “The adoption of universal training by the United States at this time would be unmistakable evidence to all the world of our determination to back the will to peace with strength fO “l€Trd, e i recommend the temporary re-enactment of selective service legislation in order to maintain our armed forces at their authorised strength. “Our armed forces lack the necessary men to maintain their authorised strength. They have been unable to maintain their authorised strength through voluntary enlistments, even though such strength has been reduced to the very minimum necessary to meet our obligations abroad. “We cannot meet our international responsibilities unless we maintain our. armed forces. It is of vital importance, for example, that we keep our occupation forces in Germany until European peace is secure.