U.S. ‘PREPAREDNESS’ CALL LIKELY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22588, 17 March 1948, Page 5

U.S. ‘PREPAREDNESS’ CALL LIKELY

TRUMAN TO ADDRESS CONGRESS WEST EUROPE MAY BE BACKED PRESIDENT’S MOVE SURPRISES LEADERS . ■ (N.Z.P A.—Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 16. President Truman, who will address a }oint session of Congress at 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday on the critical foreign situation" is expected to submit a comprehensive "preparedness" programme, based on United States supremacy in air power, says Reuter s correspondent in Washington. Sucli a programme would be designed to back up the United States against any consequences which might follow the complete fulfilment of the Truman doctrine pledge that the United States would support any European country resisting totalitarian pressure. This is taken in informed quarters to include Scandinavia.

The speech, which is obviously of the highest importance because of its timing, will be broadcast by all the major radio networks.

SECRET CONFERENCES OF DEFENCE CHIEFS

The speech, which is obviously of the highest importance because of its timing, will be broadcast by all the major radio networks.

Reuter’s correspondent compares the position to that after the fall of France in 1940 when President Roosevelt asked for a nation-wide preparedness programme.

“It is understood there is strong pressure on the President to call for the comprehensive mobilisation of the United States resources,’’ he added. “The measures under discussion in responsible circles here include the revival of conscription, the establishment of war powers over industry, restoration of lend-lease and the declaration of a state of national emergency. Both the New York Times, in an editorial, and the Herald Tribune, in a despatch from its Washington correspondent, Suggests that President Truman may announce American plans to support the alliance now being formed by Britain, France and the Low Countries as the nucleus for the common defence of West Europe. The New York Times says: “The alliance is assured of the tacit support of the United States but President Truman’s decision to address Congress suggests that this support may be made more explicit.’’ The Herald Tribune correspondent says it is reported in Washington that the administration has decided that the

new alliance must be backed by some form of military commitment from the United States.

The announcement was a surprise to Congress and State Department officials. It followed a series of secret conferences of the nation’s leaders, including one between the Secretary of Defence, Mr. James Forrestal, and the joint chiefs of staff of the armed services at Key West, Florida, naval base. It is expected that Mr. Forrestal will report to President Truman before Wednesday on attempts to formulate a plan of unified strategy to defend the United States against attack. The Secretary of State, Mr. George Marshall and the Under-Secretary, Mr. Robert Lovett, are reported to have spent the week-end in North Carolina, presumably working on a report for President Truman regarding his message to Congress. Officials on Capitol Hill said the President is expected to report on the entire world situation and may lay special emphasis on the recent Russian encroachments on Finland and Norway. He is also expected to discuss the situation in Italy. Congressional leaders had been given only 30 minutes’ warning of the President’s announcement of his desire to address a joint session of Congress and also that he had some serious information, presumably of developments in Europe, which have not yet been made known to the public. The Speaker of the House, Mr. Martin, told Reuter that President Truman had telephoned him 30 minutes before the White House issued the announcement. and said: “I have some information I want to give Congress before it leaks out.”