Evening star., 1953-09-29
Non-Partisan Support
..0f a Strong Defense
Urged by Truman
By the A.seeiased Pres.

NEW YORK, Sept. 29.-For-
rner President Truman says the
United States must build "a
really strong defense" and. from
a position of strength, show
willingness to negotiate "in all
sincerity" for a solution Of its
differences with the Soviet bloc.
Mr.. Truman. urging nom
partisan support for this pro-
gram, says the negotiations
should be ''in firm agreement
with our allies and from a posi-
ton of united strength"
He urged a battle for freedoms
both at home and abroad in an
address last night at a dinner,
attended by 1,400 of the Four
Freedoms Foundation at the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The for
mer President received the
foundations fifth annual Four
Freedoms Award. The plaque
cited Mr.. Truman for "inspir-
ing leadership in the cause of
the four freedoms at home and
abroad and his valiant and un-
yielding struggle in the cause of
civil rights"
ClamOr for Heads.
In calling for a fight for free
doms, Mr. Truman said: "All
across our country there are peo-
pie at work, stirring up suspicion
of the United Nations, of our al
lies. of our own public servants.
of our fellow citizens. All across
our country there are zealots
who are clamoring for some
body's head"
He called his targets "old iso-
lationists"-and at one point,
"morticians of the mind"
Mr.. Truman declared there
now is an investigating frenzy"
in the Nation, and he said the
forces behind it are also seeking
an American isolationism which
he contended would eventually
doom the free world it put in
effect. He added:
"Only the whole free COM
munity. we and our allies to-
gether. our resources and theirs
combined. is strong enough and
big enough to meet the threat to
freedom and give us victory for
freedoms cause"
No Direct Attack on G. o. p.
Mr.. Truman did not name any
OF the people he criticized.
Basically. he said, they are the
"die-hard isolationists of IL
years ago, the people who say
"the really important thing is
to cut taxes. whether the danger
Is over or not"
Neither did the former Presi-
dent directly attack the Eisen-
hover administration or Republi-
cans as such-aS he did in two
recent speeches.
Instead, he appealed for recog-
milton and support, regardless
of partisanShip." of what he
called the basic pillars" of
American foreign policy.
In addition to a strong defense
and willingness to negotiate with
Russia, Mr.. Truman listed as the
"basic pillars" a renewed and
reinvigorated reciprocal trade
policy; support of the North At
lantic Treaty Organization; Eu-
ropean unity, the Pacific alli-
ances and the Rio de Janiero
pact for Western Hemisphere Sc
curity: technical assistance and
economic aid for underdeveloped
countries. support of the United
Nations.
Presented by AchesOn.
The plaque was presented to
Mr.. Truman by Dean Acheson,
his last Secretary of State.
Emil K. Ellis, board chairman
of the foundation, told the din
ner audience about some specific
acts for which Mr.. Truman re-
ceived the award. These includ-
ed formation of the Civil Rights
Commission. projection of the
Point Four program to export
technical know-how to under
developed countries, and Mr..
Truman's decision to fight ag-
gression in Korea-"the great
est single blow for freedom in
modern times"
Among the speakers were
Averell Hartman, Mutual Sc
curity director under Mr.. Tru-
man; Oscar L. Chapman, Sec
retary of thte Interior under Mr..
Truman, and Senator Morse,
Independent, of Oregon.