Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-07

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TIE dangers have been met ir
diftt.ent ways. as circumstances
dictated. In some cases there
was economic aid alone. In some
cases there was both economic
and military aid. In some cases
we dealt only with the military
aspects of the problem. Also in
some cases there was action by
the Congress by legislation. In
some cases there was action by
treaty processes. And in some
cases the executive acted with
the tacit acGuiescence of the
Congress.
But though the needs have
been different, and the con-
stitutional methods have been
different. there have been basic
underlying similarfties.
In each case We proceeded
from the premise that. as it was
put by President Truman in his
Greek Turkey message. "totali-
tartan regimes imposed upon free
people. by direct or indirect ag-
erosion, undermine the founda-
tons Of international peace and
hence the security of the United
States" 4
Also. all our treaty and legis-
lative action has been designed
to promote peace by making
clear our position in advance.
and thus to deter aggression and
to prevent dangerous miscalcula-
tons by would-be aggressors.
Also. in each case, our resolve
has been impressive because of
national unity which ex-
pressed it.
Also in each case where we
have so acted, we have in fact
preserved freedom.
3
Today. we concern ourselves
with the Middle East. Few, il
any, of us doubt that it would
be major disaster for the ma
tons and the peoples of the
Middle East, and indeed for all
the world. if that area we're to
fall within the grip of interna :
tional communism.
1t would be a political disaster
for the nations of the Middle
East because then those nations.
like the European satellites,
would lose the national indie
pendence which they so ardently
desire and which now they are
beginning to exercise in full
1t would be an economic disas-
ter to them. The principal eco
nomic asset of the area as petro-
leum and only the free nations
offer an adequate market.
1t would be a disaster for the
peoples Of the Middle East be-
cause they are deeply religious
peoples and their spiritual suffer-
ing would be grievous if they
were subjected to the fate of
other religious peoples who have
fallen under the rule of atheistic,
materialistic communism.
Disaster Would Spread
The disaster would spread far
beyond the confines Of the
Middle East itself. The econ
omies of many free world coun-
tries depend directly upon ma
tural products Of the Middle
East and on transportation
through the Middle East. And.
indirectly, the entire free world
economy is concerned. Western
Europe is particularly dependent
upon the Middle East. The vast
sacrifices the United States has
made for the economic recovery
of Europe and military defense
of Europe would be virtually
nullifled If the Middle East fell
under the control Of inter-
national communism.
Finally. a Communist break
through in the Middle East
would encourage the Soviet
rulers to resort everywhere to
more aggressive policies. 1t
would severely weaken the pres
sures within the Soviet world
for more liberal policies. 1t
would be a severe blow to the
struggling peoples Of Hungary
and Poland who are so valiantly
striving for more independence.
It would undo. throughout the
world, much of the benefit of
the earlier actions I have re-
called.