Evening star., 1947-03-12

under the control Of an armed
minority, the effect upon its neigh
Dor, Turkey, would be immediate
and serious. Confusion and dis
order might well spread throughout
the entire Middle East.
Moreover, the disappearance of
Greece as an independent state
would have profound effect upon
those countries in Europe whose
peoples are struggling against great
difficulties to maintain their free
doms and their independence while
they repair the damages of war.
1t would be an unspeakable trag-
edy If these countries, which have
struggled so long against over
whelming odds, should lose that vic
tory for which they sacrificed so
much. Collapse of free institutions
and loss of independence would be
disastrous not only for them but for
the world. Discouragement and pos
sibly failure would quickly be the
lot of neighboring peoples striving
to maintain their freedom and inde-
pendence.
Should we fail to aid Greece and
Turkey in this fateful hour, the
effect will be far reaching to the
west as well as to the east.
We must take immediate and res
olute action.
Funds and Personnel Asked.
I therefore ask the Congress to
provide authority for assistance to
Greece and Turkey in the amount
of 100000, 900 for the period end
ing June 80, 1948. In requesting
these funds, I have taken into con-
sideration the maximum amount of
relief assistance which would be fur
nished to Greece out of the $780,
100000 which I recently requested
that the Congress authorize for the
prevention of starvation and suf-
fering in countries devastated by the
war.
In addition to funds, I task the
Congress to authorize the detail of
American civilian and military per-
sonnel to Greece and Turkey, at the
request Of those countries, to assist
in the tasks of reconstruction, and
for the purpose of supervising the
use of such financial and material
assistance as may bs furnished. II
recommend that authority also be
provided for the instruction and
training of selected Greek and Turk
ish personnel.
Finally, I ask that the Congress
provide authority which will permit
the speediest and most effective use,
in terms of needed commodities,
supplies and equipment, of such
funds as may be authorized.
If further funds, or further au-
thority, should be needed for pur-
poses indicated in this message, I |
shall not hesitate to bring the sit
uation before the Congress. On this
subject the executive and legislative
branches of the Government must
work together.
This is a serious course upon
which we embark.
Alternative More Serious.
I would not recommend it except
that the alternative is much more
serious.
The United States contributed
S341 ,000, 100000 toward winning
World War II. This is an invest
ment in world freedom and world
peace,
The assistance that I am recon-
mending for Greece and Turkey
amounts to little more than one
tenth of l per cent of this invest
ment. 1t is only common sense that
we should safeguard this invest
ment and make sure that it was not
in vain.
The seeds OF totalitarian regimes
are nurtured by misery and want. |
They spread and grow in the evil
soil of poverty and strife. They
reach their full growth when the
hope of people for a better. life
has died.
We must keep that hope alive.
The free peoples of the world look |
to US for support in maintaining
their freedoms.
II we falter in our leadership, we
may endanger the peace of the world
-and We shall surely endanger the
welfare of our own Nation.
Great sponsibilities have been
placed upon us by the swift move
ment of events.
/ am confident that the Congress
will face these responsibilities
squarely.