The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1950-10-31
TRuMAN's SPEECH
President Truman. IN a recent speech

President Truman, n a recent speech
IN San Francisco, discussed the issues IA
cling the free peoples of the world but We.
think his speech has been badly mishandled
BY some Of the press associations. which
have played up the idea that it contained
bold proclamation that we are ready
TO fight Russia anywhere in the world"
and use our military might to support the
peoples Of all Asia to attain and defend
their Independence.
The President did say that Americana
Hate war. . are ready to fight TO preserve
s.our free ways OF life, !" and 'Will not see
them destroyed As we read his speech
however. all references to fighting related
to the protection Of our liberties against
aggression
In connection with the peoples of Asia,
the President said that We know they
cherish their freedom and independence,
that eve sympathize- with that desire and.
viii help them to attain and defend their
independence. This is quite a different
statement from definite commitment to
fight anywhere at the drop of a hat at any
point in the Far East or elsewhere over
the globe if this step is necessary to pre-
serve the independence of free nations.
The President. following his declara-
ton of sympathy for the aims Of the Ash
attic peoples and our desire to help them
attain and defend" their independence.
said that the entire history of this coun-
try .procIaims our policy on that point.
Certainly, our entire history includes no
promise to fight for the freedom of any
people. anywhere. at any time, and moth
ing that we find in the context of the
Presidents speech jnstffies any such inter-
probation of his remarks.
The facts now in existence deny any
such implication. The United States IS not
fighting, for example. to guarantee inde-
pendence or freedom to the people Of the
Moluccas. nor are we taking part in the
dispute over Kashmir, and we have no idea
Of intervening in China to protect and de-
fend the independence" of the Chinese
from domination BIZ the Communists. We
are not making any plans to intervene in
any part Of Eastern Russia. where sabjeet
peoples are under Communists domination
after having lost what ne consider ssssle-
nendenee and liberty
ha sensational Interpretation Of the
Pfssi dent speech Is unjustifled When
the President said that the United States
= aware OF the dangers it faces and pre-
pafine to meeting them. he stated no
new doctrine. When he urged aggressors
not to make any mistake about our attis
tades he added We value our independ-
enee and our free way Of life IN this coun-
trg-and we win give all that We have to
preserve them. This is no epoch-marking
declaration
The President did put his finger on
the Soviet Union as the threat to peaceful
development Of world relations and blamed
the tactics of the Russians for an increas-
illgly greater strain upon the fabric Of
world peace. He denounced the Soviet
Union and its satellites for maintaining
armed forces of great size and strength
and for using them TO intimidate other
countries. He said that the free men Of
the world have but one choice. to oppose
strength with strength. and added that
this is task for the free nations "a. unders
take together
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