Rapid Changes In U.S. Role

Northern Advocate, 18 June 1947, Page 7

Rapid Changes In U.S. Role

(11.30 a.m.)

NEW YORK, June 17

“The role of the United States is changing more rapidly than in any previous period of our history. “We have had to assume world-wide responsibilities and commitments.” President Truman said this at Princeton University Bicentennial Convocation, where he received the Doctor of Laws degree (his tenth since entering White House). The success of the Government’s efforts depended upon the quality of citizenship and also upon the extent to which leaders in all fields appreciated the Government's role and the greatness <TL its tasks. After stressing the important contribution educational institutions could make in preparing men and women to administer farflung enterprises, President Truman urged support for his programme for universal training. UNIVERSAL TRAINING VITAL

He regarded the universal military training programme as vital to national welfare. • He reiterated that weakness on America’s part could stir fear among small or weakened nations. “It would seem to them that we lacked the will to fulfil our pledge to aid free and independent .nations to maintain their freedoms, or our commitments to aid in restoring wartorn economics.” he said.

“In such an atmosphere these nations might not be able to resist encroachments to totalitarian .pressures. “We must not let friendly nations go by default, but the task of reconstruction is too great for us, or for any other nation, to undertake alone. “Nn single nation has the means to set the world aright.

“It is a job for all nations to do together.”