SOVIET PATTERN ALL TOO CLEAR'

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1948, Page 5

SOVIET PATTERN ALL TOO CLEAR'

“The tragic death of the Czechoslovakian Republic has sent a shock throughout the civilised world. Now pressure is being brought to bear on Finland to the hazard of the entire Scandinavian Peninsula. Greece is under direct military attack by rebels, actively supported by her Communistdominated neighbours.

“In Italy a determined aggressive effort is being made by a Communist minority to take control. ‘“Methods vary, but the pattern is all too clear. Faced with this growing menace, there have been encouraging signs that the free nations of Europe are drawing closer together for their economic well-being and for the common defence of their liberties “The United States has strongly supported the efforts of 16 nations of Western Europe to repair the devastation of war and restore a sound world economy.

“In presenting this programme to Congress in December, I emphasised the necessity for speedy action. Every event in Europe since that day has underlined the great urgency for the prompt adoption of this measure.

“The Soviet Union and its satellites were invited to cooperate in the European recovery programme. They rejected the invitation. “More than that, they have declared their violent hostility to the programme and are aggressively attempting to

wreck it. They see in it a major obstacle to their designs to subjugate Europe’s free community. “They do not want the United States to help Europe. They do not even want the 16 cooperating countries to help themselves.

“While economic recovery in Europe is essential, measures for economic rehabilitation alone are not enough.

“The movement towards economic cooperation has been followed by a movement toward common self-pro-tection in the face of the growing menace to the freedom of the free nations of Europe.

“The action of the five nations, signing in Brussels today, a 50-year agreement for economic cooperation and common defence against aggression has great significance, for this agreement was not imposed by the decree of a more powerful neighbour. It was the free choice of independent Governments, representing the will of their people. ‘“This is a notable step in the direction of unity, in Europe for the protection and preservation of its civilisation.

“I am confident the United States will, by appropriate means, extend to the free nations'the support which the situation requires, “I am sure the determination of Europe’s free countries to protect themselves will be matched by equal

determination on our part to help them to do so.

“I believe we have reached a point at which the position of the United States should be made unmistakably clear.

“The principles and purposes expressed in the United Nations Charter continue to represent our hope for eventual establishment of the rule of law international affairs.

“We cannot, however, close our eyes to the harsh fact that, through the obstruction and even defiance on the part of one nation, this great dream has not yet become a full reality. “It is necessary, therefore, that we take additional measures to supplement the work of the United Nations and to support its aims. “There are times in history when it is far wiser to act than hesitate. There is some risk involved in action—there always is, but there is far more risk in failure to act.

“If we act wisely now we shall strengthen the powerful forces for freedom, justice and peace which are represented by the United Nations and the world’s free nations.

“I regard it as my duty, therefore, to recommend to Congress those measures which, in my judgment, are best calculated to give support to the free democratic nations of Europe and to improve the solid foundation of our own national strength.