The Wilmington morning star., 1945-10-24
Text Ut Truman Speech To CONGRESS-

WASH1NI1ON, Oct. ~ - lM -
President Truman's address t,
Congress on universal militar,
training follows:
Mr.. Speaker - Mr.. Presiden
- and members of the Congress,
of the United States:
In my message to the Congress:
of September 6, 1945, I stated tina
| would communicate further witt
respect to longer range program
of national military security fo]
the United States. now presenr
to the Congress my recommends
tons with respect to one essentia
part of this program - universe,
training.
The United States now has 8
fighting strength greater than al
any other time in our history. Il
il greater that that of any othe,
nation in the world
We are strong because of many
things: our natural resources
which we have so diligently de.
veloped; our great farms an d
mines, our factories, shipyards and
Industries which we have so en-.
practically created and operated.
But above all else, we are strong
because of the courage and vigor
and skill of a liberty loving people
who are determined that this ma
ton shall remain forever free.
With that strength comes grave
responsibility. With it must also
come a continuing sense of lead
ership in the world for justice and
peace.
For years to come the success
Of our efforts for a just and last
ing peace will depend upon the
strength of those who are deter
mined to maintain the peace. We
intend to use all our moral in
fuence and all our phi y 81 cal
strength to work for that kind of
peace. We can ensure such peace
onlv so long as we remain strong.
We must face the fact that peace
must be built upon power, as we'll
as upon good will and good deeds,
Our determination to remain
powerful denotes no lack of. faith
in the United Nations Organiza-
tion. On the contrary, with all the
might we have, we intend to back
opr OBLIGATIONS and commitments
under the United Nations Charter.
Indeed. the sincerity Of our inten-
ton to support the organization
will be judged partly by our will
jngness to maintain the power with
which to assist other peace-loving
nations to enforce it's authority. 1t
is only by strength that We can
impress the fact upon possible fu-
ture aggressors that we will toll
crate no threat to peace or hber-
ty.
MUST ACT NOW
To maintain that power we must
act now. The latent strength OF our
unframed citizenry is no longer
sufficient protection. II attack
should come again, there would be
no time under conditions of mod
ern war to develop that latent
strength into the necessary tight
ing force.
Never again can we count on the
luxury of time with which to arm
ourselves. In any future war, the
heart of the United States would
be the eneny's first target. Our
geographical security is now gone
gone with the advent OF the
robot bomb, the rocket, aircraft
carriers and modern airborne arm
les.
The surest guaranty that no ma
ton will dare again to attack us is
to remain strong in the only kind
Of strength an aggressor can I'M
derstand - military power.
To preserve the strength e our
nation. the alternative before us
is clear. We can maintain a large
standing Army, Navy and All
Force. Or we can rely upon COM
paratively small regular Army,
Navy and Air Force, supported by
well trained citizens, who in time OF
emergency could be quickly mo-
bilized.
l recommend the second course
that we depend for our security
upon comparatively small profess
SIGNAL armed forces, renforceo
by well trained and effectively
organized citizen reserve. Inc
backbone of our military force
should be the trained citizen who
Is first and foremost a civilian,