Evening star., 1950-06-09

FOLLOWING is the teIt OF Presi-
dent Truman,s speech today at
the University of Missouri:
I am very glad to take part il
these graduation exercises at tn
University of Missouri.
The young men and womel
graduating here today deserv
congratulations, for they hav'
proved that they are able to thinl
for themselves, and to work hare
day by day to reach truly worth
while goal.
These university graduates ant
their fellows at other schools al
across our country. should be con
graduated for another reason. too
They should be congratulated be
cause they are entering a worlt
Of greater opportunities thar
young people have ever had be
fore.
You hear q lot of talk thes,
days to the effect that the worlt
Is full of dangers, and that oul
civilization is heading straight
for disaster. OF course, the worle
is full Of dangers-the world ha!
always been full Of dangers, fol
people in every country and al
every period of history.
Perils Of Misuse Greater.
AS men have gained more scien.
. tiflc knowledge, the dangers which
could come from the misuse o1
that knowledge have grown
greater. But by the same toker
the opportunities for human ad.
vancement have also become
greater.
Our scientific achievements car
be used for good, and need not be
used for evil. Our civilization
need not wind up in disaster; il
can 60 on TO greater heights
Those who are frightened and
dismayed do not have faith that
men will use scientific advances
for good ends. They see only the
dangers in the world-not the
opportunities.
But those who understand a free
society have faith that we can
use our knowledge for human ad-
vancement.
For the essential meaning of a
free society is that free men, fac
ing the practical realities of any
situation, can choose the course
that will provide for their common
protection and advance their COM
mon welfare.
Can Find Right Solution.
Our history shows that men
working together through the
democratic process can find the
right solution to new problems.
The democratic process is not
always easy. 1t involves us in
great public debates. Emotions
are aroused and feelings run high
But when the shouting is ended
and the decision is taken, the
resulting choice rests on the solid
foundation of the common wisdom
OF the people. Dictators and
tyrants, who thought our politica.
debates indicated indecision anc
weakness, have found to theil
dismay that, instead, those de.
bates are a source of wisdom ant
q sign Of strength.
The ability of our democrati,
process to find proper solution
for difficult problems has beer
dramatically demonstrated again
In the last five years in the fielt
OF foreign policy.
U. 8. In Unique Situation.
When the war ended, in 1945
the American people found them
selves in a situation unique il
their experience. BY the circum
stances Of history, we had becom,
the strongest single nation OF
earth. Most of the other grea
nations Of the world were pros
trate. Our help and Leadership
were essential to assist them tt
recover. and their recovery wa!
vital to our own security ane
prosperity.
Furthermore, it soon becam,
clear that one nation did no
want to help world recovery. In.
stead, that nation wished to pro.
long and intensity the misery O.
others, so that it could gain domi
nation over them. The plair
intent Of that nation was to over.
throw the tradition of freedom
which is shared by our countr.
and many others.
Faced Clear Choice.
In this situation, the Unitet
States faced a clear choice, which
was debated up and down ou
land. We could choose to abandon
the rest of the free world and tr,
to become strong enough all b,
ourselves to withstand Communis
aggression. Or we could choos
to work with other countries t,
build the combined strength nee
essary not only to Withstand az
gresSion. but also to achieve peac
and human advancement.
You know the outcome of tina
debate. The overwhelming choic
Of the American people was-an'
is-against the dangerous futilit
Of isolationism and for full co
operation with other nations to
ward peace and freedom.
We have backed that voice witt
deeds. Our strong support Of tn
United Nations. our vital contri
button to the European Recover
Program, our ratification of tn
North Atlantic Treaty, our mill
tary assistance to the common
defense OF free nations-thes
and many other actions are par
Sf our strong, positive program
TO achieve just and lasting peace
. Aims of Peace Program.
Our program for peace and free
Hom is necessarily designed q