President Truman Calls For A Strong United States None Will Dare Attack

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 June 1950, Page 5

President Truman Calls For A Strong United States None Will Dare Attack

WASHINGTON. June I.—President Truman lashed out at Russia today in a message asking Congress to provide 1,222.5 million dollars for the second year of the Foreign Military Aid Programme.

He declared that the only hope for the survival of freedom was to build among the United States and her friends the kind of defensive strength that the Soviet Union would not dare to test.

President Truman blamed Russia fol making arms aid necessary. He said: "The Soviet Union has declared itself to the destruction of democracy and everything it represents. It is waging e grim struggle to make the entre free world slaves. “No nation can be neutral, for a sei ious outbreak at yv/here on earth inevitably affects everyone. Consequently ’he task o. increasing the ability of the ftee nations to defend themselves is a matter of vital mutual interest to all freedom-loving people. “There is no alternative course, ex. cept the abandonment of freedom itself, because the Soviet Union has no compassion for weakness. Our hope must, therefore, lie in creating a kind of defensive strength among ourselves and our friends which the Soviet Union will not dare to test. “This can be done and it must be done. The task will require more than plans, promises and hope. It will demand the best and the most that every nation can contribute.” Mr. Truman continued: “The arms programme is not a panacea to cure the world’s ills, nor will it singlehanded end the cold war or assure success in a hot war. However, combined with the tireless efforts of all free nations and with our own contributions in other fields, the objective becomes attainable. “Without this programme the goal

is beyond our reach. Peace depends on the free world’s ability to stem those forces which seek to cloak the whole earth with the mantle of totalitarianism.” Mr. Truman’s recommendation foi fiscal 1951 was slightly smaller than the 1,314,000 dollars voted by Con* gress for the current year ending June 30. He proposed the new funds to be divided as follows: North Atlantic Treaty nations, 1000 million dollars; Greece and Turkey). 120 million: Persia, the Philippines and South Korea, 27i million; and the general area of China, 75 million. Mr. Truman asked for limited authority in the event of an emergency to divert a small portion of funds ear marked for any specific area. He said: “With continuation of Soviet probings for weak spots in the security structure of the free world, emergency situations of this character may well arise and require prompt and positive action by the United States.” Mr Truman also urged Congress* to change the laws so that American arms could be sold to.nations not covered in the present legislation. CLOSER TO PEACE. President Truman said today that the world was closer to peace than al any time in the last five years. He made the statement when asked to comment upon the reports of a poll of American public opinion which showed that the majority of Americans expected war in the next five years. Mr. Truman said he did not agree with that point of view. He added he was doing everything he could through United Nations to prevent war. Mr. Truman did not elaborate upon his statement about the world being closer to peace. W