Evening star., 1951-09-26
Text of Truman Speech

i Text of Tru
Following is the tert of the
address OF the President at the
dedication OF the equestrian
statues at Memorial Bridge
today:
On behalf of the American
people / am happy to accept the
gift of these four beautiful statues
from the people of Italy. These
statues were designed by Amer
lean artists and made by Italian
craftsmen. Italian foundries and
Italian workmen. using the secrets
of their craft that go back to the
days of Michelangelo. cast these
heroic figures in bronze and COW
cred them with gold.
These statues bear witness to
the artistic traditions and the fine
workmanship of the Italian people.
Four of the workmen who made
these bronze groups have come to
this country for the ceremony,
and we are delighted to have them
with us. We are also fortunate to
have. with us a representative of
the trade union leaders of Italy
who are striving for a free, demo-
cratic labor movement. These
Headers are fighting in the cause
| of free trade unions and free
people everywhere. The presence
here of these Italian citizens testi-
fieS to the friendship and trust
between the people of Italy and
the people of the United States in
the struggle for human freedom.
Ever since the war. our two
countries have been working to-
gether to preserve world peace
We have been seeking to create
economic conditions that will
make it possible for all men to dc
useful work and live their lives
in freedom. The Italian people
have made great progress, Mr.
Prime Minister, since your last
visit to Washington in l947.
Postwar Progress Cited.
Your people have made progress
in agriculture and industry. In
dustrial production in Italy is now
IS per cent higher than it wa.
i'm 1947. Electric power production
lis almost double what it was be-
fore the war. You have been NOV
ing forward in land reclamation
and flood control.
But this is not all. Italy is en-.
gagged in program of economic
and social reforms. Low-cost
housing developments have beer
started. Land reform is giving
thousands of farmers new stake
in the land they work. The whole
island of Sardinia has been freec
from the scourge of malaria ano
as a result offers new and greater
opportunities for economic de-
velopment.
We in the United States regard
steps like these as vitality impor-
tant. We believe most deeply that
the benefits of economic progress
and increased production shoulc
be made available to all the people
i That Is why we are so glad II
Isee the new developments tina
are taking place in Italy today
Italy is making progress by evolu
ton and not by revolution. Ant
lit is progress that benefits tn
ordinary citizen. We are conf
dent that the firm devotion II
freedom and democratic principle
| that has guided you, Mr.. Prim
minister, and your colleagues il
office, will result in further ad
Ivances for the Italian people.
Right to Participate.
1 Through these difficult year
since the war the Italian peopl'
.Ihave proved their right to par
ticipate fully-and as equal part
Iners-in the great constructive
tasks of the free world.
During your conference here
IMr. Prime Minister. we have dis
Icussed ways in which our TIVE
countries can continue to Worl
together in the effort of the fre'
nations for peace and human ad
lvancement.
1t is clear that Italy cannot d.
Its full share in this effort unde
the existing restrictions of th'
italian peace treaty. AS it stand
the treaty does not give Italy thu
position of equality among thu
free nations to which it is now en-
Titled. Among other things thu
treaty places unnecessary shacklei
on Italian efforts for the common
defense of the community of fret
nations. We intend to do every
thing we can to see that these un.
fair restrictions and discrimina'
Itions are removed.
l. We also intend to keep on work.
ling for the admission of Italy II
the United Nations. If the Sovie
Union keeps on vetoing Italy
membership, other ways must b
, found to enable Italy to play
full and equal part in upholdin
the principles of the United Ma
tions.
In the economic field, we re