Evening star., 1951-01-08

We believe in independence
for all nations.
We believe that free and in
dependent nations can band to-
gether into a world order based
on law. We have laid the cor
nerStone of such a peaceful
world in the United Nations.
We believe that such a world
order can and should spread the
benefits of modern science and
industry, better health and ed
ucation, more food and rising
standards of living-through-
out the world.
These ideals give our cause a
power and vitality that Russian
communism can never COM
mand.
The free nations, however,
are bound together by more
than ideals. They are a real
community bound together also
by the ties of self-interest
and self-preservation. If they
should fall apart, the results
would be fatal to human free
dom.
Our own national security is
deeply involved with that of
the other free nations. While
they need our support, we
equally need theirs. Our ma
tional safety would be gravely
prejudiced if the Soviet Union
were to succeed in harnessing to
its war machine the resources
and the manpower Of the free
nations on the borders Of its
empire.
If Western Europe were to
fall to Soviet Russia, it would
double the Soviet supply Of coal
and triple the Soviet supply
of steel. If the free countries
of Asia and Africa should fall
to Soviet Russia. we would lose
the sources of many of our
most vital raw materials, in
Guiding uranium, which is the
basis of our atomic power.
And the Soviet command of
the manpower of the free ma
tions of Europe and Asia would
confront us with military
forces which we could never
hope to equal.
Special Responsibility.
In such a situation, the Soviet
Union could impose its demands
on the world, without resort to
conflict, simply through the
preponderance of its economic
and military power. The So
Wet Union does not have to
attack the United States to Sc
cure domination of the world.
It can achieve its ends by iso-
lating us and swallowing up all
our allies. Therefore, even If
we were craven enough to aban-
don our ideals, it would be dis
astrous for us to withdraw from
the community of free nations.
We are the most powerful
single member of this commu-
nifty, and we have a special re-
sponsibility. We must take the
leadership in meeting the chal-
lenge to freedom and in helping
to protect the rights of indie
pendent nations.
This country has a practical,
realistic program of action for
meeting this challenge.
First, we shall have to ex-
tend economic assistance where
1t can be effective. The best
way to stop subversion by the
Kremlin is to strike at the roots
of social injustice and economic
disorder. People who have jobs,
homes and hopes for the future
will defend themselves against
the underground agents of the
Kremlin. Our programs of eco
nomic aid have done much to
turn back communism.
In Europe, the Marshall Plan
has had electrifying results.
AS European recovery pro-
gressed, the strikes led by the
Kremlin's agents in Italy and
France failed. All over West
ern Europe, the Communist
Party took worse and worse
beatings at the polls.
The countries which have re-
ceived Marshall Plan aid have
been able, through hard work.
to expand their productive
strengthen many cases, to
levels higher than eyer before
in their history. Without this
strength, they would be COM
pletely incapable of defending
themselves today. They are
now ready to use this strength
in helping to build a strong
combined defense against ag-
gresSion.
We shall need to continue
some economic aid to European
countries. This aid should now
be specifically related to build
ing their defenses.
Must Aid This Hemisphere.
In other parts of the world
our economic assistance will
need to be more broadly directed
toward economic development
In the Near East. in Africa, ir
Asia, we must do what we car
to help people who are striving
to advance from misery. poverty
and hunger. We also must con-