Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-07-25

dent S MeSS0g
suppression of human liberty In
countries under Communist con-
troll, the nations of Western Eu.
rope have not been able to ignore
the necessity of military de.
Tense for themselves.
They have seen what the Soviet
Union has done to nations fol
which 1t professed friendship and
with which 1t was recently allied
They have observed how a Com
munist coup d'etat, operating in
the shadow of the massed military
might of the Soviet Union, can
overthrow. at one stroke. the
democratic liberties and the poll
tical independence of a friendly
nation.
AS a consequence of that ex-
perience, and in the light of the
fact that the two most devastat-
ing wars in history originated in
Europe, they realize that they
must have a shield against ag-
erosion to shelter their political
institutions and the rebirth of
their own economic and social
life.
The nations of Western Europe
have addressed themselves in all
seriousness to the task of provid-
ing such a shield. In the Treaty
of Brussels, five nations of West
ern Europe established joint
measures for their own defense.
In support of that treaty, they
have co-ordinated both their de-
fensive strategy and their plans
to produce necessary military sup
plies.
Types of Assistance.
Those five nations, together
with Norway, Denmark and Italy.
have undertaken annual military
expenditures equivalent to about
So billion dollars. This is the
maximum amount they are able
to spend without seriously inter-
fering with the civilian produc-
ton necessary for their economic
recovery. This amount Is not,
however, enough to furnish these
nations the protection they need.
Concentrating, as they are. on
restoring their economic stability,
they are unable to spare the
plants and the materials required
to bring their defense establish
ments up to the necessary levels.
Furthermore. there are certain
items essential for their defense
which they are not. equipped to
provide for themselves.
They have. therefore. come to
us with urgent requests for as
sistance in providing the neces-
sary margin of arms and equip
ment which will make them better
able to repel aggression and
mitigate the anxieties of their
peoples.
I recommend that we supply
these countries with assistance of
three types: First. limited
amount of dollar aid to enable
them to increase their own pro-
duction' of military. items with
out impairing their efforts for
economic recovery second. the
direct transfer of certain essential
items Of military equipment, and
third. the assistance of experts in
the production and use of mill
tary equipment and the training
of personnel. Such program
will enable these countries to
acquire the elements necessary to
their defense without hampering
their recovery.
The military assistance which
we propose for these countries
will be limited to that which is
necessary to help them create
mobile defensive forces. Our OBJ
jective is to see to it that these
nations are equipped. in the
shortest possible time, with COM
pact and effectively trained forces
capable Of maintaining internal
order and resisting the initial
phases of external aggression.
U. s. Intentions Emphasized.
At the present time, the mill
tary power which is the greatest
deterrent to aggression is cen
tered in the United States. 5000
miles away from Europe 1t must
be made clear that the United
States has no intention. in the
event of aggression, of allowing
the peoples of Western Europe to
be overrun before its own power
can be brought to bear. The pro-
gram of military assistance now
proposed is a tangible assurance
of our purpose in this regard.
Outside of Western Europe we
are already engaged in a program
of military assistance to Greece and
Turkey. This program has been
in effect since May, 1947. The Com
munist effort in Greece, in the
form Of a guerrilla war supported
from abroad, has been condemned
by the General Assembly of the
United Nations. Our aid to Greece
has checked this attempt to over
throw the political independence Of
a free nation. 1t is important that
pCoCuG SdAlS dkdlloI Vic SUCIllI1do
be maintained and that the opera
lions be pressed to successful con-
clusion. Only If this is done. can
the economic reconstruction of
Greece be accomplished.
In Turkey, our aid has lessened
the burden of military prepared
ness which the threatening pressure
of the Soviet Union had imposed on
a primarily agrarian economy. AL
though the Turkish defense system
has been improved, additional
equipment and maintenance parts
are needed for the modernization
of certain Turkish defense units.
Aid for Other Areas.
We are also confronted by the
necessity of making military assist
ance available in other areas Of the
world outside Europe.
In Iran the use of SURPRISES Of
United States military equipment
has aided in improving the defen-
sive effectiveness of the Iranian
Army and the maintenance Of in
| ternal order. 1t Is now necessary