Evening star., 1947-04-05
The Political Mill
Trumun S Doctrine
Wins First Victory

VIHS uS iSNOIy
| Committee Support of Greek Aid
Heralds Approval by Congress
By Gould Lincoln
Unanimous action by the Senate
FOREIGN Relations Committee gave the
truman Doctrine" designed to pre-
vent 1 further territorial expansion Of
communism into the Near East, the
Middle East and western Europe) its
f,rst victory In the halls OF Congress.
The committee, by its vote Of Is to o,
sent to the Senate the administration
bill, in amended form. authorizing .
500 100000 loan to Greece and Turkey.
This is, ia reality, strategic and mill
tary move, intended to safeguard this
country and the world from another war.
In order to overcome the charge that
the United States had by-passed the
United Nations in proposing to make
this loan, the committee has written
into the bill q modified version OF an
amendment offered by Chairman Van
denberg. The amendment gives the
United Nations the right to veto the
Truman program In Greece and Turkey
II and when the q. N. should be ready
to go forward with . program Of its own
in those countries. or If and when the
program is no longer deemed necessary.
The United States is pledged to stand
aside and oppose no veto, as 1t might do
as permanent member OF the Security
Council OF the U. N. The demand for
cessation of the American program In
Greece and Turkey could be made either
by the Security Council or by the Gen.
eral Assembly of the United Nations.
Soviet Veto An Obstacle.
A foremost reason why President Tru-
man did not, in the nrst instance, pro-
pose that program for the aid Of
Greece and Turkey-to strengthen them
both economically and miiitarily-be
undertaken by the United Nations, lies
In the fact that Soviet Russia stood
ready to veto the proposal. Russia, too.
is permanent member Of the Security
Council, the executive agency Of the
communist expansion movement, backed
by Russian might, that Greece and Tur-
key stand in danger, 1t was necessary to
move for their aid in way which could
not be blocked by mere Russian veto
In the Council.
The United States has played fore
most part in the creation Of the United
Nations. America has made clear again
and again that 1t looks to the United
Nations as the agency for security and
world peace, and that the United States
will do It's utmost to build up this
agency.
However, the unwillingness Of Soviet
Russia to act comparatively within the
U. N. has been, up to this date, q great
stumbling block. Russia has continued
her expansionist moves almost un-
checked. The United Nations is eom-
nitted to the principle Of freedom of
people to decide upon its own form of
government. This principle has been
side-tracked through the activities Of
small, heavily armed minorities. Greece.
apparently. was next on the list to 60
the way Of communist expansion.
U. N. Action Is Unlikely.
While the Foreign Relations Commit
tee was willing, in reporting out the
loan bill. to make the program subject
TO a United Nations veto 1t is obvious
that this Government does not expect
such veto. It is not expected either
IN the Security Council or In the Gen.
eral Assembly. For only Soviet Russia
and her satellite countries, where conf
munistic governments are already In
stalled. could be counted opposed to the
American program. 1t has been sug-
gested that perhaps France, which has
strong communist party, might join
with Russia. But that seems improbable
The American program, as has been
said, provides for Greece both economic
and military aid. For Turkey 1t is
frankly admitted the loan is to enable
that country to maintain and improve
its military forces. Turkey at present
is in fairly sound economic situation, but
If 1t had to put the $100, ,000, 600 which
this country proposes to lend her into
further military expenditures, the eco
non1ic rug might be pulled from under
her feet.
Every effort in committee to limit the
loans merely to relief and rehabilitation,
as proposed by Senators Pepper OF Flor
ida and Taylor of Idaho, both Demo-
Gratis, were defeated. In other words,
the Truman Doctrine" was sustained
by the committee to man. The admin
istration has insisted that the program
will lead, not to war rs charged by its
opponents, but to peace. This may very
well be true. Suppose, for example, that
no aid Is provided Greece, and Greece /,
comes under the domination Of Soviet
Russia. The next step would be into
Turkey, and then the makings of an
other world conhagration would be at
hand. The American people have seen,
not so long ago, the step by step expan-
sion Of another totalitarian power-now,
fortunately. no longer q power. Con-
gress will be in line with the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee when the
showdown comes on this Truman
program.
Going Pretty Far