RUSSIA INVITED TO PROVE DESIRE FOR PEACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22663, 14 June 1948, Page 5

RUSSIA INVITED TO PROVE DESIRE FOR PEACE

(10 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 13, President Truman yesterday challenged Russia to prove her desire for peace by ceasing her tactics of "coercion and open aggression.’’

The President was addressing the University of California at Berkeley. He declared that Russia was largely responsible for the world being in the "twilight period between a war so dearly won and a peace that still eludes our grasp.” The Soviet’s refusal to work with her wartime allies for world peace and recovery was the "bitterest disappointment of our time.” President Truman said the United States had hoped the Soviet would accept full partnership in a peaceful world community. The record, however was clear for all to read. The Soviet had rejected the invitation to participate freely and on equal terms in a great co-operative programme for the reconstruction of Europe. The Soviet had constantly manoeuvred for delay and for propaganda effect in every international conference. She had used indirect aggression against a number of nations in Eastern Europe and extreme pressure against others in the Middle East. The United States had no hostile or aggressive designs against the Soviet or anv other country. It was not waging a "cold war” and would always respond to honest negotiations looking towards genuine settlements. President Truman said that Russia could make a genuine contribution to world peace by withdrawing aid from the guerrillas in Greece and by permitting North and South Korea to unite.

It was possible for different economic systems to live side by side and in peace provided one of these systems was not determined to destroy the other by force.