Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-15
For Peace and Security

With the departure of the last of our oc-
cupation forces from Italy, President Tru-
man has served notice that our Govern
ment will maintain a continuing and
lively interest in the future of that coun-
try More particularly, having in mind
the possibility of Kremlin-i inspired coup
and citing our obligations both as a sig
natory of the peace treaty and as men,
Der of the United Nations, he has fatty
warned that the United States will con-
slider appropriate" countermeasures If
events indicate either direct or in
direct threat to Italian freedom and
independence.
This significant and timely statement
obviously is designed to strengthen the
hand of the De Casper government at a
moment when it still must deal with a
serious Communist menace In effect,
the President has cautioned all Moscow
oriented conspirators against the reckless
assumption that the withdrawal of our
troops will be followed now by American
Indifference to the country's fate. He
has made clear that nothing could be
more incorrect. He has made clear that
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Greece, will act affirmatively against any
effort to subvert Italy and hand it over to
Soviet dominance-a development that
could have the gravest consequences in
terms of the strategical balance of power
throughout the Mediterranean world.
The Presidents warning, moreover, has
been impressively accented by the con-
gressional conference agreement on emer-
gency foreign aid. Under this agreement
scheduled for adoption today-Italy, to-
gether with France and Austria, will share
in help authorized to total $597 100000.
Cuts made by the House have been re-
stored, and other changes from the Sem
ate bill-including the doubtful provision
adding China to the list of recipients
have been so modified that the program,
if full appropriations are voted, will be
adequate to meet the critical winter needs
of the Italians and of the French and
Austrians as well.
Together with the Presidents statement
on Italy, this action on stopgap aid should
emphasize to the Kremlin and its satel-
lites that the United States means bust
ness in helping hard-pressed independent
lands to get back on their feet and re-
main their own masters. The next move
to that end will be decided after Congress
meets in regular session next month and
takes up the all-important long-term
16-nation European recovery program
the so-called Marshall plan. This plan is
the crucial part of the grand design of
the United States to serve its own vital
interests by doing everything it can to
restore the economic and political vigor
of its free friends abroad.
AS the President has just said in ref
erence to the Italian situation, what is at
stake in all of this is peace and security
our own not less than Europe's and Asla's.
If we carry through with what we have
started, If we do not retreat from it or
waver or lose sight of it's tremendous
meaning, we and like-minded nations can
keep Red totalitarianism safely in check.
The news about the ruble's spectacular
devaluation serves to remind us that the
Soviet Union, far from being omnipotent,
has more than a few chinkS in its armor
If the free world, supported by American
power acts with frmness and vision, it
will remain free. More than that, it can
enjoy such rebirth of strength that the
men of the Kremlin may one day feel i'm
PEELED to change their present violently
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