RESISTANCE TO AGGRESSION

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26319, 13 January 1951, Page 7

RESISTANCE TO AGGRESSION

SPEECH BY SENATOR CONNALLY

(Rec. 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 11. The initiative for strengthening the defences of Western Europe against any Soviet aggression rested with the United States, said Senator Tom Connally (Democrat, Texas) in the Senate to-day.

“We need Western Europe as much as Western Europe needs us,” said Senator Connally, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator Connally said that an increase in the American forces in Eutope would put an end to hesitation and fear, and the effect on morale

would be more than sufficient to support the parallel effort which the United States would demand from Western Europe in return. Senator Connally, discussing Republican suggestions that the sending of additional American troops to Europe might provoke Russian retaliation, said: “These people believe that an attempt to strengthen Europe will invite an attack.

“The logical extension of that premise is that it is sater to leave Europe weak. So we arrive at the curious conclusion that, if we want to avoid an attack, we make no preparation for it. It is a sort of strength-through-weakness philosophy.' The United States rejected the thesis that war was inevitable, said Senator Connally. He believed that the differences with the Soviet Union could be resolved by negotiation and agreement. "but we know that war can be avoided only if the free nations have the economic an/ military strength to guarantee such rough handling of ; ts of aggression that the Communist imperialists will abandon aggression as a tactic.”

The United States should brand Communist China as an aggressor in Korea, said Senator Connally. If the international community was not willing to recognise aggression for what it was. then “the Unitea Nations will die as surely as a tree without a taproot.” If the United Nations wanted to retain the confidence and support of the American people, it must not run to cover when the "oing became a little tough, added Senator Connally.