Evening star., 1949-03-19

other free nations which will CO.
operate with US in safeguarding
peace and security.
In the compact world Of today,
the security Of the United States
cannot be defined in terms Of boun-
daries and frontiers. A serious
threat to international peace and
security anywhere in the world is
of direct concern to this country.
Therefore, 1t Is our policy to help
free peoples to maintain their in
tegrity and independence, not only
in Western Europe or in the Ameri-
cas-, but wherever the aid we are
able to provide can be effective. Our
actions in supporting the integrity
and independence of Greece, Turkey
and Iran are expressions OF that
determination. Our interest in the
security of these countries'has been
made clear, and we shall continue
to pursue that policy.
In providing military assistance
to other countries. both inside and
outside the North Atlantic Pact, we
will give clear priority to the re-
quirements for economic recovery.
We will carefully balance the mill
tary assistance program with the
capacity and requirements Of the
total economy, both at home and
abroad.
Eventuality Of Armed Attack.
But to return to the treaty, Article
deals with the possibility, which
unhappily cannot be excluded, that
the nations joining together in the
pact may have to face the even
tuality Of an armed attack. In
this article, they agree that an
armed attack on any of them, In
Europe or North America, will be
considered an attack on all Of them.
In the event of such an attack,
each of them will take, individually
and in concert with the other
parties, whatever action it deems
necessary to restore and maintain
the security of the North Atlantic
area, including the use OF armed
force.
This does not mean that the
United States would be automat-
ically at war, If one of the nations
covered by the pact is subjected to
armed attack. Under our Constitu-
ton, the Congress alone has the
power to declare war. We would
be bound to take promptly the ac-
ton which we deemed necessary to
restore and maintain the security
of the North Atlantic area.
That decision would be taken in
accordance with our Constitutional
procedures. The factors which
would have to be considered would
be, on the one side, the gravity OF
the armed attack; on the other, the
action which we believed necessary
to restore and maintain the security
of the North Atlantic area.
That Is the end to be achieved
We are bound to do what in our
honest judgment Is necessary to
reach that result. If we should
be confronted again with q CAL
culated armed attack such as we
have twice seen in the 10th Cen
tury, I should not suppose that we
would decide any action other than
the use Of armed force effective
either as an exercise of the right
of collective self-defense or rs nee
essary to restore the peace and Sc
curity of the North Atlantic area
That decision will rest where the
Constitution has placed 1t.
This is not . legalistic question.
It is q question We have frequently
faced, the question of faith and
principle in carrying out treaties.
Those who decide it will have the
responsibility for taking all ap-
propriate action under the treaty.
Such a responsibility requires the
exercise of villa will disciplined
by the undertaking solennly con-
tracted to do what they decide is
necessary to restore and maintain
the peace and security Of the North
Atlantic area, That Is our obli-
CATION under this Article 5. 1t Is
equally our duty and obligation to
the security of our own country.
Subject to U. N. Charter.
All of these provisions Of the
pact are subject to the overriding
provisions of the United Nations
Charter. Any measure for self
defense taken under the treaty will
be reported to the Security Council
of the United Nations. These
measures will continue only until
the Security Council, with its pri-
mary responsibility. takes the nec-
essary action to restore peace and
maintain security.
The treaty has no time limit, but
after it has been in effect 20 years.
any member can withdraw on one
years notice. 1t also provides that,
after it has been in existence 10
years, it will be reviewed In the
circumstances prevailing at that
time. Additional countries may be
admitted to the pact by agreement
OF all the parties already sigma
tories.
These are the principal prov
sions of the tracy.
Will the pact accomplish its
purpose?
No one can say with certainty.
We can only act on our convictions.
The United States Government and
the governments with which we are
associated in this treaty are con-
vinced that it is an essential meas
ure for strengthening the United
Nations, deterring aggression, and
establishing the sense of security
necessary for the restoration OF the
economic and political health OF
the world.
It seems absurd that it should be