RESTORATION OF WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26491, 19 June 1947, Page 7

RESTORATION OF WORLD

Need for Strong America

COUNTER TO TOTALITARIAN PRESSURE Rec. 7.30 p.m. NEW YORK, June 17. President Truman, speaking at the Princeton University bicentennial convocation, where he. received the Doctor of Laws degree (his tenth since entering the White House), said: “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 pointed out that the success of the Government's efforts depended upon the quality of citizenship and also upon the extent to which the leaders in all fields appreciated the Government’s role and the greatness of its tasks. President Truman reiterated that weakness on America’s part could stir fear among small or weakened nations. “It would seem to them,” he said, “ that we lacked the will to fulfil our pledge to aid free and independent nations to maintain their freedoms or to fulfil our commitments to aid in restoring war-torn economies. In such an atmosphere these nations might not be able to resist the encroachments of totalitarian pressure. “ We must not let friendly nations go by default,” he said, “ but the task of reconstruction is too great for us or for any nation to undertake alone. No single nation has the means to set the world aright. It is -A job for all nations to do together.”