AMERICA’S COURSE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22280, 15 March 1947, Page 5

AMERICA’S COURSE

MID-EAST PLANS I “NATIONAL SHAME" | COMMUNIST OPINION 1 NEW YORK, Mar. 13. ’ “Even more important titan the Greek crisis is the American crisis,” says P.M. in an editorial comment on President Truman’s speech. It adds: “Mr. Truman’s plea for aid for the Greek and Turkish Governments, if followed, will make America the underwriter of every unstable Government in the world which is capable of going- Communist. “May Lead To War” “President Truman asks us to engage in a course which can only mean unforseeable military adventures and eventually a third world war. It is not the ‘alternative ways of life’ that he is concerned with. Let him strip himself of that cant. He is concerned with the world struggle for power. Mr. Truman is really .talking about holding Russia's power strictly within the present limits, even if it means war.” The Washington Post in an editorial, says; “Greece and Turkey must be shored up against an aggression which, judging from the President’s statement, is bound to succeed unless we act.” The New York Communist Daily Worker says: “President Truman's demand that America take over Greece and Turkey marks a day of national shame for our country.' * Mr. Truman is selling the American people the ‘fools’ goal of Empire’ in complete abandonment of President Roosevelt's vision of a stable post war peace. Congress Debate Proposed

“We are being swindled into rushing American dollars and American ammunition to save a rotten and hated Greek monarchy and to do this we will have to move in on Greece and make a quisling colony out of it, drowning in blood the democratic aspirations of the Greek people.”

The New York World Telegram, in an editorial, while describing President Truman’s speech as “brave and admirably candid, ’ adds that the proposal should be debated in Congress and the country before a decision is made.

“The answer to the proposal may, for better or worse, decide our own ultimate destiny as a free people,” it says.

The New York Post says that Congress cannot refuse to grant the aid that the President recommended. “That, on the facts, is its duty,” it says. The New York Sun says: “If the United States people are to walk a new road, only the beginning of which is open to view, their representatives in Congress are certain to insist upon a fuller disclosure of how long a march is proposed and what is the stopping place, if any.” The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Mr, Taber, rejected the State Department request for authority to send 25,000,000 dollars’ worth of oil refining equipment to Russia. The State Department had explained that America was committed to the transaction under the uncompleted lend-lease agreement with Russia. Mr. Taber told the press: “We cannot do it. That is appeasement.” China and Turkey Approve

The United Press correspondent in Nanking reports that the Information Minister. Mr Peng Heueh-pei, described President Truman’s message as “heartening news,” because it showed discerning understanding of the causes of economic crisis wrought in countries which had been the victims of destruction and rebellion.

Mr Peng interpreted Mr Truman's request as the beginning of an American policy to support the free peoples who are resisting armed minorities. The Instanbul correspondent of the Associated Press quotes the Prime Minister of Turkey as saying: “The trouble in Greece and Turkey could spread like a microbe.” Turkey was in a serious economic position because the burden of maintaining a large army for national defence took half of the country's income. Turkey conceded that Britain’s call to America for help in time of need was a noble and correct action.

Mr Truman had not confined himself only to an understanding of worldwide strategy but also had been inspired by the realistic and humanitarian viewpoint. The deep influence of ideas asserted would reach beyond the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Near East, Mr Truman’s viewp.fnt emphasised that world security was an indivisible whole and he inspired peace-loving peoples with a guarantee of living properously, independently and honourably.