Evening star., 1949-07-28


The military assistance program
which the President has recon-
mended to the Congress is most ur-
gently needed. I hope that on ar
analysis of the facts the committee
will share my deep conviction that
adoption of the program at this time
is essential to reach the objectives
of the United States in foreign af-
fairs.
The proposed military assistance
program cannot be regarded as an
isolated piece of legislation unre-
lated to our whole foreign policy
Much more than military assist
ance, important as that is, is in
volved. What is also at stake here
is the continuation with undimin-
ished vigor of the great concerted
effort the United States Is making,
in company with other nations of
like purpose. to assure peace and Sc
curity in the world. This effort has
been expressed, on the part of the
United States, in an unbroken Sic
cession of positive measures which
have substantially advanced the
cause of world peace with freedom
and justice and have materially
strengthened our own security.
Part of Peace Measures.
The military assistance program
must be judged in the broad context
Of our whole foreign policy. 1t fol-
lows in the sequence OF measures
which we have undertaken to &C
complish the primary purpose OF
our foreign policy-the establish
ment of the conditions of peace and
security in which the United States
and the other free nations can en-
dure and prosper.
The enactment of the military as
sistance program would assure the
continuance in full force of the posi-
tive leadership which the United
States Is asserting in behalf Of the
free world. The failure to provide
military assistance to those Joined
with us in that effort would reverse
the Affirmative and effective policy
which this country has thus far
pursued.
Such a negative response to the
challenge that still confronts us
would inevitably weaken the conf
dence of the other free peoples In
the determination of the United
States to carry out the task we have
jointly undertaken. -
No Quitting at Halfway Mark.
It Is not in keeping with the
American character to quit at the
halfway mark, before the course is
run. firmly believe that the Amer
lean people will want to spare no ef-
fort to realize our goal of secure
and peaceful world. 1t is my con-
viction that an adequate program
of military assistance is essential to
the attainment of that goal.
Twice in our lifetime threats to
the security of the United States
have arisen and have been allowed
to develop unchecked until we found
ourselves fighting for our existence
as a free people. - We are de-
termined henceforth to profit from
these tragic experiences and to elm
mate or neutralize any new threat
to our security before IT gets out OF
hand. ,'-' -
This determination OF the Amer
lean people to be forewarned and
forearmed was evident even before
the conclusion Of the recent war
. There was clear understand
ing that the only possible way tr
which a just and peaceful A. tyoElc
order, could be, organized was by the
collective action Of the peoples dedi-
Gated to peace. -..
On the basis OF that conviction
which was shared by many others
the United States undertook the
leadership of the movement to Or
ganize the postwar world for collec-
tive security. '''
u. N. Is Expression Of Ideal.
The concrete expression of that
ideal Is the United Nations, the
most ambitious and comprehensive
attempt in history to organize the
nations of the world for peace and
progress on a universal basis.
When the effort to achieve collec-
tive security through the United
Nations was impeded by recalci-
trant minority, the free nations Of
the majority proceeded with the
search for collective security on as
broad a base as possible. = We
have continued to support and
strengthen the United Nations and
have adhered to its principles and
purposes. We have initiated and
are carrying out, in corporation
with other free nations, a whole
series of measures designed not
only to keep the peace by collec-
tive action, but also to neutralze
and forestall the threat to the
security and well-being Of free
peoples.
Each of these measures, and a
number of others, has made ar
important contribution to the prog
ress we have achieved. But none
was sufficient alone. The totality
of our effort is what has given re.
newed strength and vitality to the
free world and has brought us
thus far safely through great dan
gers. The momentum must be
maintained if we are to accomplish
our purpose. -
We may wish for a number o1
reasons that it were not necessary
to add military assistance to the
heavy responsibilities We already
bear, but we cannot escape the in.
exorable logic of the facts Of hfe
in the world as 1t is.
Soviet Military Power Cited.
One Of the facts we must face
is that the free nations of Western
Europe, with whose security our owr
security is bound up, are incapable
today of defending themselves
against a major armed attack
Another fact is that the Soviet
Union today maintains the largest
peacetime military force in the his.
tory Of the world. while exertine
iron-fisted control over its neigh.
bors and pursuing a policy of ex.
plotting any evidence of weakness
in others.
The continuation of these twr