Evening star., 1947-03-25
Letters to The Star From Its Readers
A Warning on American Aid Greece and Turkey
and Plea for Disclosure of All the Facts

To the Editor Of The Star:
The proposal of President Truman
with regard to Greece and Turkey con-
fronts the United States with one of the
gravest questions in its history.
Acceptance of that proposal involves
/. complete reversal of our long standing
policy in foreign affairs. 1t involves in
tervention and participation in and re-
sponsibility for the internal affairs of
other nations It involves an economic
drain on the people of this country
which, from relatively small beginning,
may proceed to an extent which no one
can now foresee More than that, it
involves employment of the military
power of the United States-again ap-
parently on a small initial scale, but
again also with no practicable limits.
1t projects this country directly into
the complexes of both Europe and the
middle east under circumstances which
may well lead to war. 8]
It has not been established why it Is
to the vital interest of the United States
to take this step. Nor, if'it can be con-
ceded that the vital interest of our
country is actually affected, has there
been any revelation of the facts in this
situation that make hasty action an
imperative.
All that the Congress or the people
have been given is the Presidents as
sertion that the, vital interest of the
United States is involved and that i'm
mediate action is essential And the
Presidents address is much more re-
markable for its vagueness and resort
to generalities than for any light it has
shed on the reasons for making 1t.
Wants All Facts Known.
AS a matter of plain common sense,
however serious the straits of Greece
and Turkey, they cannot become too
much worse in the time that will be
required for the open and thorough dis
cussion of this situation which alone
can give the American people the op-
portunity to know what they are being
asked to do, what the material cost will
be, and what commitments of other
natures are to be made in their name.
1t is the plain duty of members of
Congress to prevent hasty action-to
insist that all the facts are made known
to see that these facts are laid before
the people in understandable terms
and, finally, to take action in the light
of the facts and the expressed will of
the people.
Members Of Congress can serve no
good purpose by premature and ILL
considered statements of opinion. Such.
for instance, as the one attributed to
Senator Vandenberg to the effect that
I'VE must uphold the hands of the
President" Certainly, our history gives
abundant evidence that Presidents can
make mistakes. The welfare Of the
country is always consideration Of far
greater moment than support of the
President in either national or inter-
national affairs.
Twice in single generation our coun-
try has become involved in the wars of
others. In each case the American
people endured the suffering and sac
rifice Of war for lofty ideals. In neither
case have they seen those ideals realized
On the contrary, this country emerged
from each war weaker than it entered,
and after each war the world in general
was in worse condition than before.
We lost men and wealth, we exhausted
irreplaceable natural resources, and we
bred conditions that caused widespread
dissatisfaction and doubt among the
American people concerning their prin-
ciples of government and way of life.
Intrinsically, we are weaker nation
today than ever before in our history.
We appear strong only by contrast with
PROSTATE world. In this weakened
condition are we now to embark on
new adventure about which we know
nothing, but which may lead first to
war and, second, to the final demoral-
ization of the world and the disappear
ance of the slightest hope for an orderly
society?
The British Example.
The two world wars caused the virtual
destruction of the great British Empire.
Is that not sufficient example to make
us pause before starting down a road
which may lead to the same end?
The President said:
There is no other country Except
the United States to which democratic
Greece can turn"
What does this statement mean? That
no other country cares anything about
Greece as democratic" country? That
no other country cares enough to help
alleviate the physical want of her
people? Or that no other country has
the resources to extend aid?
Under any Interpretation, the i'm
plication of the Presidents words are
far-reaching. There are 2,000,00O,000
people in this world. Out of this num-
ber, can the 100000, 900 people who COM
prise our Nation be the only ones who
can assume the burdens of weaker
countries? Is it practical possibility?
If so, can we DO it, or even attempt to
do it, without destroying ourselves?
The President said:
1.-The United States contributed $34l,-
900 ,000, 900 toward winning World War
II. This is an investment In world
freedom and world peace"
Where is the freedom and where is
the peace? Is the world We have today
the kind of return on investment"
that justifles the beginning of new
outpouring Of funds?
The President said:
THE assistance that am recommend
ing for Greece and Turkey amounts
to little more than 1/10 of / per cent
OF this investment"
Does the President or any one else