Evening star., 1947-09-05
7rumdn's Talk to Brazilian Conqress
Pro DE 1ANrTPo Cont &

IIul1IuII J \ III
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. S.
The tert OF President Truman's
address to a joint session of the
Brazilian Congress today tollo,Ds:
President Dutra, Mr.. President O
the Congress, Senators and Depu
ties:
am deeply grateful for the in.
vitation to appear before the Con
gress of this great nation who's,
history is so entwined with tina
of the United States.
Speaking as one who has come tt
executive position from Legislative.
halls, I am all the more appreciativs
of the honor you have extended tt
me. The Legislature of a demo.
cratic country is identified with thu
people themselves. This must be 81
If the tree of responsible self-gov.
ernment is to blossom fully ane
bear rich fruit.
Brazil is justly proud of a history
of government by free men. I salute
the Congress of the great Brazilian
nation and I extend my best wishes
to the noble people which it rep
resentS.
The ties between the United
States and Brazil have always beer
close. 1t is not too much to de-
scribe our relations as those of life
long friendship" Your declaration
of independence was brief, but just
as challenging as was ours. The
cry OF independence, uttered on that
famous September 7. 1922, told the
world that the time had come when
Brazil was to be governed by its
own people and for their own well
fare.
Cites U. S. Recognition.
I am happy to recall that the
United States was the first of the
nations of the world to recognize
the new independent state. We were
not troubled by the fact that it took
the form of an empire, for the
foundations of the empire were
democratic.
The constitution which was adopt.
ed two years later was the express
sion of the ideals of free government
not those of absolute monarchy.
The history of Brazil in many re-
spects parallels that of the United
States. Both are nations which
have carved civilizations out of the
wilderness. Both have been en-
dowed with great natural resources
and both have been developed by
people whose dominant motive was
freedom.
If 1 am happy that the United
States was the first to recognize the
new nation of Brazil, I am equally
happy that it was to the United
States that Brazil turned for support
in it's struggle for independence.
The alliance which Brazil pro-
posed to us was a singular mark OF
confidence. 1t was the beginning
of our historical friendship which
I have described as lifelong"
The long reign of the great Dom
Pedro II put Brazil among the lead
ing democratic nations. Americans
of today know him well, for you
have engraved his noble features
upon a postage stamp which comes
to the United States with every mai
from Brazil.
Pedro's Visit Recalled.
We recall with pleasure that he
was the first monarch to visit the
United States, when he came to the
exposition at Philadelphia in 1876
which marked the centenary of ou1
independence.
Then in 1889, when Brazil felt
that the form of republic fitted
better its national aspirations, the
Congress of the United States OF
America adopted joint resolution
congratulating the country upon its
new form of government. 1t is in
teresting to note also that Brazil
adopted constitution modelled
closely upon that of the Federal
system of the United States.
Why are the ties between us sc
close? The distance between oul
countries is great and until Of recent
years communication was slow and
difficult. But it is not physical prox-
unity alone that makes friends ano
neighbors. It is rather the fact
that we have common interests
common principles and common
ideals.
We look upon the state as the
agent of the people for the attain
ment of the general welfare.
We have the same belief in the
fundamental rights of man.
We have the same respect for the
dignity of the individual.
We look upon international rela-
tions as governed by the same stand
ards of moral conduct by which in
dividuals are governed.
Same Concept of Freedom.
In short, the declarations of Sep
tember 7 and July 4 demonstrate
that we have the same concept OF
freedom and democracy.
One of your great statesmen. Ruy
Barbosa, whose name has left ar
imperishable memory, once said that
the principles which formed the bash
Of stability and justice within each
state should be applied equally te
nations. He felt that this was the
only hope of maintaining civilized
relations between them.
The idea was not new. 1t was
part of Brazil's inheritance, as il
is part of the inheritance of every
other Christian nation. But Ruy
Barbosa's eloquence has made it q
living principle of the foreign policy
of Brazil. His declaration that there
can be no neutrality between right
and wrong will remain forever part
of the moral traditions of your
country.
In a recent exchange of CORE
spondence with Pope Piux XII,
said that I desired to do everything
in my power to support and to con-
tribute to a concert of all the forces
striving for a moral world. I be-
lieve in making that statement I
spoke the thought not only OF my
own country but of Brazil as we'll.
The United States has been fortu-
nate in having Brazilian friends