Evening star., 1951-02-01
Text Of Eisenhower Report Europe Congress Members

So that this faith in America
is one that lies at the bottom of
this, and the faith that the lead
ership should provide will in
spire the same kind of feeling,
the same kind of effort. in our
friends abroad. There I am sure
that we must exercise a bit of
patience. 1t takes some time for
our purposes, no matter how
plainly we may think they are
written upon the wall. It takes
some time to understand those
purposes and to gain faith in
them. Remember, we have our
own doubts, as individuals, and
we have our own debates. Think
how that is multiplied in Eu-
rope, where there are 10 of these
nations in this organization and
they have all the nationalistic
factors to increase the intensity
of the debate.
Allies Have Serious Problems.
We must have a patience with
our allies. Some Of their prob
lens are very, very serious.
France, in trying to carry on the
war against communism in
Indo- China, is losing monthly
more than half of the men they
can produce as instructors-the
instructors they need to produce
the army in France. which they
are so desperately trying to do.
Yet they promise, in spite of
that, that by the end of the
year 1852, Is battle-worthy di-
visions. That is the kind of
effort they are making.
Britain has similar things in
the Malayan Peninsula. Others
of them have problems. We
have our own. So we can get a
bit impatient when we think
they don't see instantly what we
are trying to do and what they
should do in order to emulate
and equal us.
But, ladies and gentlemen,
leadership does have patience
when it cannot succeed.
There Is one other point. I
tried desperately to bring to you
gentlemen specific types of
comparisons that would con-
vince you today Of Europe's in
tent and Of Europe's accom-
plishment.
But when I tried to take such
items as the proportion of gross
national product that is turned
into military purposes, when I
tried to take in terms of enlisted
or terms Of service under con-
scription; when I tried to take
the number of men who are &C
tually in uniform or the amount
of force they were trying to
produce. the amount of their
national budget that is put into
military purposes, I ran up
against this impossibility: The
impossibility of making such
comparisons.
One Example Convincing.
I started to talk about it in
one nation and a man said to
me: General, we are amazed
at the amount of your national
product that you can devote to
this great purpose. We under
stand that you are going to put
about 20 per cent of your gross
national product in military or
semimilitary purposes. Come
with me, though; 60 out into
the villages and into the farms
and see what a 5 per cent re-
duction in our standard Of liv-
ing means" I looked at that
squarely in the face.
I would like to bring to you
specific criteria and although
I am disappointed in being
unable to do so, I do come back
with this: The defense of free
dom, exactly like the apprecia-
tion of freedom, is in the heart.
1t is a job that each Of us
can do and though I cannot
bring you back specific criteria
by which you may Judge for
yourselves, know in a materi-
alistic way, I do hope earnestly
that each of you will take the
opportunity to 60 to Europe and
see whether you appreciate and
sense this growing rejuvena-
ton, this growing determina-
ton that I felt. ! assure you
this: Once I get a headquarters
established, every one of you will
be welcomed there. Some of
you were there some years ago
and it will be a nicer visit if
you come back.
The cost of peace is going to
be a sacrifice, a very great sac
rif1ce, individually and nation
ally. But total war is tragedy.
it is probably the suicide of our
civilization.
Decade of Decision Ahead.
7 came back, ladies and gen.
tlemen, with the purpose of just
rendering a report. It is not
my proper roll to be exhorting
the members. I am trying not
to make my words those of edu-
cation, I am trying to make
them those of deep conviction.
that the world, our world, has
arrived at a decade of decision.