Evening star., 1947-04-05

Win the assistance 70 pc PROVIDED Dy
the United States in the form Of
supplies and equipment, together with
the improved conditions which should
result from the provision Of American
financial and technical assistance, the
Greek Army, gendarmerie and police
forces will be adequate to maintain law
and order In Greece.
Question: Does our entry into Greece
and Turkey under the circumstances
proposed by President Truman entail
the abandonment Of the Monroe Doc
trine with its corollary that II European
countries keep out OF North and South
America, we likewise shall keep out Of
Europe?
Answer: President Truman,s proposal
does not entail in any respect an
We do not understand the alleged
corollary contained in the above ques-
ton to the effect that If European coun-
tries keep OUT OF North and South
America, we shall keep out" Of Europe.
Twice in the last Is years the United
States has gone to the assistance OF
democratic countries in Europe by send
ing 5000, 900 men at one time and 4,000,-
900 men at the other time. After World
War I, the United States contributed
approximately $2 ,000, ,00o, 900 to the relief
and suffering in Europe. Since World
War II, we have contributed about $4,-
600 600 900 for the same purpose. Presi-
dent Truman's present proposal Is to
respond to the requests of two nations
which have asked for assistance from
the United States.
Question: Would gift Of money to
Great Britain for Greece achieve the
same purposes? Have any attempts been
made financially or otherwise to assist
Britain to remain in Greece?
Answer: No consideration has been
given to the possibility Of making gift
OF money to Great Britain to be spent
for Greece. It Is not believed that such
q course would be an appropriate or
desirable way to respond to the request.
Question: Did President Truman
know Of this impending emergency
when he advised Congress on March 3,
to allow selective service to lapse?
Answer: The President did know OF
the impending emergency at that time.
No Bargain With British.
Question: Will the British govern
ment relinquish any of her claims to oil
interests or controlled trade in the
Middle East in return for our substitu-
ton for her role in Greece?
Answer: The proposed aid to Greece
is not for the benefit Of the government
of Great Britain. There Is, therefore,
no reason for the Government OF the
United States to bargain with the gov
ernment of Great Britain or any other
third government, before extending aid
to Greece of the kind proposed.
Question: What steps are being taken
to convince the Soviet Union that our
policy is not aimed at construction OF
an encirclement Of Russia?
Answer: There is nothing secret about
our proposed policy. It has been fully
set forth in the Presidents message ana
published throughout the world. We
do not consider that there is any ground
for constituting our policy as being aimed
at the encirclement Of any country and
we believe that the speedy carrying out
of the proposed action along the lines
set forth by the President will be the
best evidence that our objectiyes are
solely those stated by the President.
Question: What guarantees are being
sought from the Greek government con-
cerning political freedoms In Greece?
Answer: This Government Is not pro-
DOSING any special guarantees from the
Greek government concerning political
freedoms in Greece. The existing con-
stitution and laws Of Greece contain
provisions guaranteeing those freedoms.
Greece's problems do not arise from lack
Of constitutional guarantees but from
disturbed conditions which impede the
operation OF constitutional government.
Question: What are the British COM
mitments in Greece? Which Of these do
they give I'D on March 81? II British
military force remains in Greece, what,
If any, obligations have we to support 1t?
Answer: SO far as this Government
knows, the British government has no
binding commitments in Greece other
than an obligation to furnish certain
financial assistance up to March 81, 1947.
The United States would have no obli-
cation to support any British force
which might remain In Greece.
No Promise to Send Troops.
Question: Has there been any under
standing, oral or otherwise, with the
Greeks that we would furnish other
than advisory aid in military matters
II 1t became necessary, that is. that we
would actually use troops II circum-
stances seemed to require 1t?
Answer: There has been no under
standing Of any nature to this effect.
question: What is contemplated rs to
policy In the Middle East in relation to
petroleum reserves? In Iran? In Iraq?
In Saudi Arabia?
Answer: It should be clearly under
stood that our program for assisting
Greece and Turkey is not connected
with any oil concessions which American
companies may have in the Near or
Middle East.
The objectives Of the foreign policy OF
the United States, so far as oil Is con-
cerned, are Of universal nature. These
objectives, as stated in the Anglo
American petroleum agreement now
pending before the Senate, may be
briefly summarized as follows: That
the interests Of producing countries be
safeguarded with . view to their. eco
nonnic advancement; that valid conces-
sion contracts and lawfully acquired
rights be respected; that the acquisition
of exploration and development rights
be governed by the principle OF equal