The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-04-11

Iully dIOuoSQ dlld III OliiP CiJ
acting can prevent disaster.
Yesterday President Truman, in the
name of democracy and humanitarian
ism, proposed a military lend-lease
program He proposed loan of $500
million to Greece and Turkey as a
down payment on an unlimited eX-
penditure aimed at opposing commun-
ism expansion. He proposed, in eff
feet that America police Russia's ev-
cry border. There is no regime too
reactionary for us provided it stands
in Russia's expansionist path. There
is no country too remote to serve as
the scene of a contest which may
widen until it becomes a world war.
President Truman calls for action
to combat a crisis. What is this cris-
is that necessitates Truman going to
Capitol Hill as though a Pearl Har-
Dor had suddenly hit us? How many
more of these Pearl Harbors will there
be? How can they be foreseen?
What will they cost?
President Truman says that the
people of Greece are homeless, hung
ry and ravaged by the losses of war.
We all know this 1t is not only the
Greek people who are suffering from
the war. 1t is the peoples of ali Eu-
rope of Russia, of China and of many
lands.
Americans agree with President
Truman that we must aid the people
beside whom we fought. Americans
ask: If aid to the people of the world
is our objective, why did the Presi-
dent and the congress allow the Uni
ted Nations Relief and Rehabilitation
Administration to die? Why are we
doing nothing to help the million dis
placed persons without homes in Eu-
rope? Why are we speaking of only
$500 million when the need is far
greater? Why is $3.50 million of those
$400 million to be given to Turkey !
which was no ally of ours and which |
is in no urgent need of food and sup
plies?
Most Cherished Human Goal
All Americans agree with President
Truman that freedom is the most cher
ished Of human goals, and should be
helped to grow in all countries.
These same Americans ask: How does
support given to the undemocratlc
governments of Greece and turkey
aid the cause of freedom?
Turkey is a nation which fought
against us in the first World War and
which in this war refused to help the
United Nations. Turkey fattened ner-
self off the Germans and the Allies
by offering her vital supplies OF
chrome to the highest bidder. Out OF
these sales she built up gold re-
serve of a quarter of billion dollars.
Turkish neutrality heightened the war
by months. Turkey was haven Tor
nazi leaders at the war's.end. 1t is
utter nonsense to assert today that
the Turkish government is represen-
tative or democratic Turkish sources
state that the $3.50 million that Presl-
dent Truman proposes to give Tur-
key is to be used to maintain her
army of million men-equivalent to
seven million men in terms OF the ]
United States. In what sense is this :
an army of freedom? Many allied di- /
visions were immobilized throughout j
the war because we never knew on
whose side this same Turkish army {
was preparing to fight.
Utter Nonsense
Everyone admireS the Greek people
who fought on our side. They urgent l.
ly need economic aid. l would be
strongly for economic aid to Greece.
AS secretary of commerce [ was for
q Greek loan for such purposes when
most of the administration was again
st it, But President Truman has made
it clear that very little of the $3.50 mil
lion loan to Greece is for economic
1t is a military sub
sidy to the Greek government to con-
tinue it's efforts to stamp out all OPP I
position 1t is utter nonsense to sug- c
gest that sthe present Greek govern t
nent is democratic one. Three t
weeks ago our secretary of state Gen i