Evening star., 1949-04-05
From Yesterdays Last Edition.


This Is the tert Of President
Trunan's address at the sign
ing of the Atlantic defense pact:
On this historic occasion, am
happy to welcome the Foreign Min
listers of the countries which, to-
gether with the United States, form
the North Atlantic community of
nations.
The purpose of this meeting Is
TO take the first step toward put
ting into effect an international
agreement to safeguard the peace
and prosperity of this community
of nations.
1t is altogether appropriate that
nations so deeply conscious of their
common interests should join in. ex-
pressing their determination to pre-
serve their present peaceful situa-
ton and to protect 1t in the future.
What we are about to do here Is
a neighborly act. We are like a
group of householders, living In the
same locality, who decide to express
their community of interests by en-
tering into a formal association for
their mutual self protection.
This treaty is a simple document.
The nations which sign 1t agree to
abide by the peaceful principles of
the United Nations. to maintain
friendly relations and economic CO.
operation with one another, to con-
suit together whenever the territory
or independence of any one of them
Is threatend, and to come to the aid
of any one of them which may be
attacked.
Obligation Reaffirmed.
It is simple document, but II 1t
had existed in 1914 and in 1899, sup
ported by the nations which are
represented here today, I believe 1t
would have prevented the acts of
aggression which led to two world
wars.
The nations represented here have
known the tragedy of those two
wars. As a result, many of lis took
part in the founding of the United
Nations. Each member of the United
Nations Is under a solemn obliga-
ton to maintain international peace
and security. Each is bound to set
tie international disputes by peace
full means, to refrain from the threat
or use of force against the territory
or independence of any country, and
to support the United Nations In
any action 1t takes to preserve the
peace.
That solemn pledge-that abiding
obligation-we reaff1rm here today.
We rededicate ourselves to that
obligation, and propose this North
Atlantic treaty as one Of the means
to carry it out.
World Force Blocked.
Through this treaty we undertake
to conduct our international affairs
in accordance with the provisions of
the United Nations Charter. We un-
dertake to exercise our right of col
1ective or individual self defense
against armed attack, In accordance
with Article 81 of the Charter, and
subject to such measures as the
Security Council may take to MAIN
tain and restore international peace
and security.
Within the United Nations, this
country and other countries have
hoped TO establish an international
force for the use of the United Ma
tions IN preserving peace throughout
the world. Our efforts to establish
this force, however, have been
blocked by one of the major powers.
This lack of unanimous agree
ment in the Security Council does
not mean that we must abandon
our attempts to make peace secure.
Even without that agreement,
which we still hope for. we shall do
as much as we can. And every bit
that we do will add to the strength
of the fabric of peace throughout
the world.
In this treaty, we seek to estab-
lish freedom from aggression and
from the use of force in the North
Atlantic community. This Is the
area which has been at the heart
Of the last two world conflicts.
To protect this area against war
will be long step toward perma-
nent peace In the whole world.
There are those who claim that
this treaty Is an aggressive act on
the part of the nations which ring
the North Atlantic.
This Is absolutely untrue.
The pact will be O positive. not
q negative, influence for peace, and
its influence will be felt not only
In the area ii specifically covers but
throughout the world. It's conclu-
sion does not mean narrowing of
the interests of It's members. Under
my authority and instructions, the
Secretary of State has recently made
Il abundantly clear that the ad-
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