Evening star., 1950-06-29

FOLLOWING Is the address OF
President Truman before the
annual convention of the Amer
tcdn Newspaper Guild yesterday:
1t is a pleasure to meet with
q group which plays so vital a
part In upholding the American
tradition Of a free and responsible
press. The men and women whom
you represent perform great
function in gathering and dis
seminating the news Of the world.
Never has this function been so
important to the general welfare
as 1t Is today.
When the Newspaper Guild was
organized II years ago. its main
purpose was to establish better
economic standards for the work.
ing force of the American press.
Over the years the Guild has es-
tablished such improved stand
ards. It's efforts have greatly
benefited many members Of the
newspaper profession.
One Of the most important ac-
tivities Of the guild and all our
labor unions is their work with
the free trade union movement in
other countries. The AF of L, the
CIO. the railway brotherhoods and
all our major unions have ex-
tended the hand Of fellowship and
friendly assistance to the free
trade unions Of the world.
Union Work Vital.
Nothing Is more vital to the
cause of free institutions every
where than this work of our labor
unions. In many countries, work.
ing men and women have been the
object Of intensive propaganda
and inflltration by the Com
munist movement. Our free trade
unions better than any one else
can effectively demonstrate to
these people that the Communists
are not interested in their well
fare. but only in using them to
further the imperialistic designs
Of an aggressive foreign power.
Our unions can best show the
workers Of other lands that the
Democratic way, not the Com
munist way, is the road to real
economic advancement. Out of
our own experience we know what
can be done to improve the eco
nomic conditions of working peo-
pie.
It is hard for us to realize just
how bad economic conditions are
for many peoples of the world.
Famine. disease, and poverty are
the scourage of vast areas of the
globe. Hundreds of millions of
people in Asia, for example, have a
life expectancy of 30 years or less.
Many Of these people live on in
adequate diets, unable to perform
the tasks necessary to earn their
daily bread. Animal plaques and
plant pests carry away their crops
and their livestock. Misuse of
natural resources exposes their
land to flood or drought.
Bad Conditions Are Threat.
Conditions such as these are the
seed-bed Of political unrest and
instability. They are a threat to
the security and growth OF free
institutions everywhere. It is in
areas where these conditions exist
that Communism makes It's great
est inroads. The people of these
areas are eagerly seeking better
living conditions. The Commu-
nists are attempting to turn the
honest dissatisfaction of these
people with their present condi-
tions into support for Communist
efforts to dominate their nations
In addition to these attempts
at persuasion. the Communists in
these countries use the weapon of
fear. They constantly threaten
internal violence and armed ag-
gression.
The recent unprovoked invasion
OF the Republic of Korea by Com
munist armies is an example of
the danger to which the under
developed areas particularly are
exposed.
Must Halt Aggression.
1t Is essential that we do every
thing we can to prevent such ag-
gression and to enforce the princi-
pies OF the United Nations char
ter. We must and we shall give
every possible assistance to people
who are determined to maintain
their independence. We must
counteract the Communist weapon
of fear.
But we must not be misled into
thinking that our only task is tn
create defenses against aggression
Our whole purpose in creating a
strong defense is to permit us to
carry on the great constructive
tasks OF peace. Behind the shield
OF a strong defense, we must con-
tlnue to work to bring about bet
Ter living conditions in the free
nations. e
Particularly in the underdevel.
oped areas Of the world. we must
work comparatively with local
governments which are seeking
to improve the welfare of thei1
people. We must help them to
nelp themselves. We must aid
Them to make progress liz aeri-
culture, in industry, in health and
IN the education of their chill
dren. Such progress will increas So
Their strength and their inde-
pendence. e
Point Four Is Answer
!ne growing strength of these
defense OF all free nations
against Communist aggression II
is important to the economic
progress of The free world. And
these things are good for us as
well as good for them.
For these reasons, I recon-
mended in my Inaugural Address
the program that has hecorne