STEPS TO SAFEGUARD PEACE

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1948, Page 5

STEPS TO SAFEGUARD PEACE

“Firstiy, I recommend that Congress speedily complete its action on the European recovery programme. That programme is the foundation of our policy of assistance to Europe’s free nations. Prompt passage of that programme is the most telling contribution we can now make toward peace. “Secondly, I recommend prompt enactment of universal training legislation. Until Europe's free nations have regained their strength, and as long as Communism threatens the very existence of democracy, the United States must remain strong enough to support those European countries which are threatened with Communist control and police state rule.

“I believe we have learned the importance of maintaining military strength as a means of preventing war. We have found that a sound military system is necessary in peace if we are to remain at peace.

“Aggressors in the past, relying on our apparent lack of military force, have unwisely precipitated war. Although they have been led to destruction by their misconception of our strength, we have paid a terrible price for our unpreparedness. “Universal training is the only feasible means whereby the civilian components of our armed forces can be built up to the strength required if we are to be prepared for emergencies. Our ability to mobilise' large numbers of trained men in emergency could forestall a future conflict and, with other measures of national policy, could restore stability to the world. “Adoption of universal training by the United States at this time would be unmistakable evidence to all the world of our determination to back the will to peace—peace with strength for peace.

“Thirdly, I recommend temporary reenactment of the selective service legislation in order to mantain our armed forces at their authorised strength.

“Our armed forces lack the necessary men to maintain their authorised strength. They have been unable to maintain their authorised strength through voluntary enlistments, even though such strength has been reduced to the very minimum necessary to meet our obligations abroad.

“We cannot meet our international responsibilities unless we maintain our armed forces. It is of vital importance, for example, that we keep our occupation forces in Germany until European peace is secure. “The recommendations I have made represent the most urgent steps toward securing peace and preventing war. We must be ready to take every wise and necessary step to carry out this great purpose. “This will require assistance to other nations and require adequate and balanced military strength. “We must be prepared to pay the price of peace, or assuredly we shall pay the price of war. “We, in the United States, remain determined to seek by every possible means a just and honourable basis for settlement of international issues.

“We shall continue to give our strong allegiance to the United Nations as the principal means for international security, based on law, not force. “We shall remain ready and anxious to join with all nations—l repeat, with

all nations—in every possible effort to reach international understanding and agreement.

“The door has never been closed, nor will it ever be closed, to the Soviet Union or any other nation which will genuinely cooperate in preserving peace. “The time has come when the world’s free men and women must face the threat to their liberty squarely and courageously.

“The United States has a- tremendous responsibility to act according to the measure of our power for good in the world. “We have learned we must earn the peace we seek, just as we earned victory in the war, not by wishful thinking, but by realistic effort. “At no time in our history has unity among our people been so vital as at present. Unity of purpose, unity of effort, unity of spirit, are essential to accomplish the task before us. “Each of us here, in this Chamber today, has a special responsibility. The world situation is too critical and the responsibilities of this country are too vast, to permit party _ struggles to weaken our influence for’maintaining peace.

“The American people have the right to assume that political considerations will not affect our working together. They have the right to assume that we will join hands wholeheartedly and without reservation in our efforts to preserve peace in the world. “With God’s help we shall succeed.”