Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-01

Tonight l report 10 you as
your President.
We all realize that the full
and free debate Of q political
campaign today surrounds us.
But the events and the issues I
wish to place before you this
evening have no connection
whatsoever with matters of
partisanship. They are concerns
of every American--his present
and his future.
I wish. therefore. to give you
a report Of essential facts so
that you--whether belonging to
either one Of our two great
parties, or to neither-may give
thoughtful and informed con-
sideration to this swiftly chang
ing world scene.
The changes Of which / speak
have come in two areas of the
world-Eastern Europe and the
Middle East.
Changes In Europe
In Eastern Europe there is the
dawning of a new day. It has
not been short or easy in coming
After World War II, the Soviet
Union used military force to i'm
pose on the nations of Eastern
Europe governments of Soviet
choice--servants Of Moscow.
It has been consistent United
States policy-without regard
to political party-to seek to end
this situation. We have sought to
fulfill the wartime pledge of the
United Nations that these coun.
tries. over-run by wartim G
armies, would once again know
sovereignty and self-government
We could not, Of course, carry
out this policy by resort to force
Such force would have been con-
trary both to the best interests
Of the Eastern European peoples
and to the abiding principles OF
the United Nations. But we die
help to keep alive the hope OF
these peoples for freedom.
Beyond this. they needed from
us no education in the worth Of
national independence and per-
sonal liberty-for. at the time Of
the American Revolution, it was
many Of them who came to oul
land to aid our cause. Recently
the pressure of the will of these
peoples for national independ.
ence has become more and more
Insistent.
Poland and Hungary
A few days ago the people Of
Poland-with their proud anC
deafness devotion to freedom.
moved to secure a peaceful.
transition to a new government
And this government, 1t seems
win strive genuinely to serve the
Polish people.
And all the world has beer
watching dramatic events II
Hungary where this brave PEG.
pie. as SO often in the past, have
offered their very lives for inde-
pendence from foreign masters
Today. 1t appears, Q new Hun.
gary is rising from this struggle
. Hungary which we hope from
our hearts will know full and
free nationhood.
We have rejoiced in these his
toric events.
Only yesterday the Soviet
Union issued an important state
ment on its relations with all the
countries Of Eastern Europe
This statement recognized the
need for review Of Soviet policies
and the amendment Of these
policies to meet the demands q
the people for greater nationa'
independence and personal free.
dom. The Soviet Union declared
its readiness to consider thu
withdrawal Of Soviet lad.
visers"-who have been the effec
tive ruling force in Soviet oc.
cupied countries-Rnd also +,
consider withdrawal of Sovie
troops from Poland, Hungar,
and BONANZA.
We cannot yet know If thesI
avowed purposes will be trul,
carried out.
Two Promising Aspects
But two things are clear.
First, the fervof and the sac
rifice Of the peoples of thes
countries. in the name Of free
dom. have themselves brough
real promise that the light O
liberty soon will shine again ii
this darkness.
And second, If the Soviet On
Ion, indeed. faithfully acts upol
its announced intention, tn
world win witness the creates
forward strike toward justice
trust and understanding anon
nations in our generation.
These are the facts. How ha
your Government responded t
them?
The United States has mad
clear its readiness to assist eco
nomically the new and indie
pendent governments of thes
countries. We have already
some days since--been in con
tact with the new government Q