Evening star., 1948-03-13
Action,
Not Just Protests,
To Save Free Lands
Demands New Warming
To Russia und Revival
Of Druft to Back 1t Up
By the Assoeiated Press

CHARLESTON, s. c., Mar. 13
james F. Byrnes, former Sec
retary of State, said today the
United States should "act," not
just protest, if Russia threatens
the independence of Greece
Turkey, Italy or France.
A new warning against "coercive'
Soviet expansion should be served
on Moscow now, he said. And to
back it up, Mr.. Byrnes said this
country should promptly revive its
wartime draft.
Mr.. Byrnes stressed in a speech
at the Citadel Military College that
he spoke as a private citizen. He said
he had not consulted President T-u-
man or Secretary of State Marshall.
Joins in Marshall Plea.
He joined in Gen. Marshall's ap-
peal for cool judgment in dealing
with a world crisis" Be he added
"It becomes the imperative duty
of each one of us to insist that steps
be taken Immediately to prepare the
United States for any eventuality.
If we are going to talk strong, we
must be strong"
Revival of selective service was
proposed by Mr.. Byrnes as a first
step to restore American military
might. He said it was needed
promptly to bring the Army up to
its authorized strength of $4,000
men, and should be coupled with
increased air power.
"The very fact that Congress takes
such action will contribute greatly
to the preservation of peace" he
said. MIR. Molotov the Soviet
Foreign Minister) does not under
stand English, but to him actions
speak louder than words in any
Mr.. Byrnes, champion of a post
war patient but firm" policy toward
Russia, said any action to curb So
Wet expansion should be within
the spirit and the letter of the
Charter of the United Nations" But
he added:
Knowing the Soviet habit of
taking over a government and then
there is nothing to dis
cuss, we must let the Soviets know
we will act Immediately to preserve
the status quo until the Security
Council has an opportunity to in
vestigate the threatened aggression.
The iron curtain already has
gone down on Czechoslovakia, Mr..
Byrnes said. And he predicted that
Russia's demand on Finland for a
defense treaty would be followed
shortly by complete political and
control of Finland's gov
ernment.
U. S. pledged" He Says.
The United States already is
pledged by the Truman doctrine,
he said, to protect the independence
of France, Italy, Greece and Turkey.
president Truman, in asking
Congress a year ago to send aid
to Greece and Turkey, said the
United States would support free
peoples who are resisting at
tempted subjugation by armed
minorities or by outside pres
sure.")
1T will be unfortunate If the
Soviets are misled into believing
we will not carry out the solemn
pledges of the President" he said.
Cites German Attitude.
In 1914 and again in 1889, the
Germans were misled by what they
believed to be our lack of decision
and our lack of military power"
"But I am confident that If the
Soviets conclude that we really
mean what we say, they will hesi-
tate to proceed further with their
efforts to dominate all Europe"
Mr.. Byrnes added.
He said he hopes Congress will
pass the European Recovery Pro-
gram. But, he continued:
I'VE must realize that the ap-1
preparation of money-which can
not be available to the European
nations for several months-will
not stop the Soviets from further
expansion this spring, if they have
decided upon such expansion"