| Show I Complete Text T of Truman's dres Ac W WASHINGTON March 17 l Th The tex text of President re ident Harry HarryS S Tru- Tru message Wednesday to a a Joint session c ion of congress follows j M I am here today to report to you on the critical nature of the situation in E Europe and to recommend recommend mend action for your tion Rapid changes are taking place In Europe which affect oUr ourt foreign foreign for for- eig eign policy polley and our national lIe lIe- se- se e- e There Is an increasing e ing threat to nations which are striving lug ing to lo maintain a form of government govern govern- meat ment which grants freedom to Its citizens The United States Is deeply c concerned with the survival of freedom ln those nations It is I of vIt vital importance that we wo act t n now w In order to preserve the condi con- con di l ns under which we can achieve lasting p peace ace based on freedom and justice The achievement of such a peace pence has be been n the great g goal al of this nation Almost three years have elapsed since ince the end of the greatest of all wars wars war but peace and stability have not returned to the world We were wen welt aware that the end of ot th would not automatically auto auto- settle the problems arisIng arising aris arts ing tag out ut o of 01 the war The of t f peace after the fightIng fighting fight fight- ing Is over has always been a difficult difficult dif dit- dif dif- task And even if all the theames allies ames of ot World War Var n II were united In their d desire to establish a just and honorable peace there would still bo be great difficulties of achieving achieving ing lug that goal Today Is Different But the situation In fn the world today Is not primarily the r result of the natural difficulties which follow a great war It Is chiefly due to the f fact ct that one ono nation has not only r re refused fused to co cooperate In Jn tho the establishment establishment of a Just and honorable pence peace but een even worse has actively sought to prevent It 7 4 r t- t r I j. j K- K L ij 5 T I- I I 1 T iL i L j jI I J Flanked by Top Aids President Leaves White House to Make Address t Pres Truman flanked by Seey Secy of State George C. C Marshall on left I House Wednesday to go jo to the capitol to make his historic and Secy of Defense James Jamel V. V Forrestal on the right leaves White J J before joint session of congress In which he urged limited d i d The congress is fl familiar with the course of events r You know of the sincere and I patient attempts of the democratic i nations to find tind a secure basis for i peace through negotiation and agreement Conference after conference conference conference con con- ference has ha been held in different parts of the world We have tried to o settle the question arising out of the war on a basis which would p permit the establishment of a Just peace You know the obstacles we have encountered But the record stands as a monument to the good goo faith and Integrity of the democratic n nations of the world The agreements agreements agree agree- ments menU we did obtain imperfect though they were could have furnished the basis bals for a Just pe peace peace peace-If If ce-If If they had been kept But they were not kept Ignored Violated They have been persistently Ignored Ignored Ig Ig- ig- ig nored named and violated by one nation The congress is also familiar with the developments concerning the United Nations Nation Most of the countries of the world have joined together In the United Nations in inan inan inan an attempt to build a world order ba based ed on la law and arid not ot on force Md t of th the tte members support the United Nations earnestly and honestly hon han estly and seek to make it stronger and more more effe effective 1 One on nation netlon ti y no However ver ha has persistently persistently per per- obstructed the work of the Un United ted Nations by constant abuse abue of the veto That nation has v vetoed 21 propos proposals ls for action In a little over two years BUt that is not all Since th the close of hostilities the Soviet Union and its it agen agents h have ve destroyed destroyed de de- de- de strayed the Independence and democratic character of a whole series of nations In east eastern rn and central Europe It Is this ruthless course of action ant and the clear design to extend I It t to the remaining free nations of Europe that have brought about the critical situation sItuation situ sItu- In Europe today The tragic dea death h of Qt the republic of Czech Czechoslovakia ha has sent a shock through throughout ut the civilized world Now pressure Is being brought to to bear on Finland to the hazard of I the entire Scandinavian peninsula Greece Is under direct military attack from rom rebels actively supported supported supported sup sup- ported by her domi Communist I neighbors neighbor In Italy a determined de- de and aggressive effort is being made by a Communist miI minority mi mi- I t to take c control m ol of that coun coun- try The m methods vary but the patte pattern n Is all too clear lear Encouraging g ng Signs Faced with this growing menace menace men men- menace ace there have been encouraging signs that the free tree nations of Europe Europe Eu Eu- rope are drawing closer together for tor their economic well-being well and for tor the common defense of their liberties In the economic field the movement movement move move- ment meat for mutual self-help self to re restore restore restore re- re store conditions essential to the preservation of free tree institutions Institution is well under way In Paris the 16 nations which are cooperating Inthe Inthe in inthe the European recovery program I are meeting again to establish a Joint org organization to w work rk for or the economic restoration of w western stern Europe The United States State has strongly supported the efforts effort of these thue natIon nation na na- na- na tion to repair the devastation of f war and restore a Io sound nd world economy In presenting this program pro pro- gram to the congress congress' last December Decem Decem- December ber I emphasized mph the necessity for speedy action Ev Every ry event in Europe since that day has underlined underlined under under- lined ed the great t urgency f for r the prompt adoption of this The Soviet Union and its it lIat satellites satel satel- l- l lites ittes were invited d to cooperate In Inthe in inthe the European recovery recovery- program m. m They rejected the invitation More than that they they have have declared their violent hostility to the program and nd an are are aggressively attempting to wreck wreck- It They see lee ee In mit it a major obstacle to their designs to subjugate the free tree community of Europe They do not want the United States to help Europe They do not DOt even want the 16 18 cooperating countries to help them themselves While economic recovery In Europe Europe Eu Eu- Europe rope is essential measures for tor economic rehabilitation alone are not enough The e free nation of pf Europe Europi realize that ecOnomic re re- covery If it is to succeed must be afforded some lome measure of at protection pro against internal and external ex ex- aggression The movement toward economic cooperation has been followed by a movement toward common self protection inthe in inthe the face of the growing menace to their freedom t Cites Agreement At the very moment I am addressing addressing ad ad- dressing you five nations of the European community in Brussels are signing a year alSO agreement for economic cooperation and cammon common common com cam mon defense defene against aggression This action actton has great significance significance cance for this agreement was not Imposed by the decree of ot a a. more powerful neighbor It was the free tree choice of Independent governments governments govern govern- ments meats representing the will of their people and acting within the terms of at the charter of the United Nations Nation Its significance v ce goes far beyond the actual terms of the agreement I itself elt It is a notable step in the direction of unit unity in Europe for forthe forthe forthe the protection and preservation 01 of Its civilization This development deserves our full support I am confident that the United States will win by appropriate means to the free n nations ti ns the which the situation requires I Iam Iam am sure th that t the determination of the free countries of Europe to themselves will be matched by an equal determination on our part to help to help them to do so Th The recent developments in Europe present this nation with fundamental issues of ot vital Importance Im Im- Im- Im I believe e that we have ha reached a point at which the position of the United Stat States should be made unmistakably unmistakably- cl clear ar The principles and purposes expressed expressed ex ex- pressed in the charter of the United Nations continue to r represent represent rep rep- p.- p. resent our hope for tor the eventual establishment of the rule of lawin lawin law lawin in International affairs attain The charter charter charter char char- ter constitutes the the basic expression expression sion Mon of the code of international ethics to which this country is dedicated Ve We Ve cannot however close our e eyes es to the harsh fact that through through- obstruction and even defiance on the part of one nation nation na na- na- na tion this great dream has not yet become a full reality Must Back U. U N. N It Is necessary therefore that we take additional measures to the work of the United Nations and to support It its aims alms There are times in world history when it is far wiser to act than to hesitate There is some some risk in involved involved involved in- in in action there action there always is But there is far tar more risk in failure failure failure fail fail- ure to act For if we act wisely now we shall strengthen the powerful forces for freedom justice and peace which are represented by the United Nations and the free natto nations s of the world I regard it as my duty therefore therefore there there- therefore fore to recommend to the congress con con- gress gren those measures which in my judgment are best calculated d to give support to the free and democratic nations of Europe and to improve the solid oid foundation of our our- own national strength First I recommend that the congress speedily complete Its Ita action actton on the European recovery ry program That program Is f. the foundation of our policy of assistance as- as as as- ll ce to the free Europe Prompt passage of tl that at program Is the most molt telling contribution con con- we can now make toward peace ce I The decisive action which h the senate has taken without regard to partisan political considerations Is a striking example of the effective e working of ot Democracy Times Time's me Important Time is II now of critical f por tance I am ama encouraged by tile the Information inform information in in- form formation which has come to me rue concerning the plans for expeditious expeditious action by the house houe of I hope that no ingle single day will be ne needlessly heedlessly lost Second I recommend prompt enactment of ot training legislation Until the free nations nation of Europe have regained their strength and 10 so long as communism threatens th the very existence of demo democracy acy the United States statu must mun remain strong enough to support those countries of Europe which are I threatened with Communist control control control con con- and state police-state rule I II I believe that we have learned the tho importance of maintaining military strength a as l a n m means an l of preventing war We Ve have found that a Ii sound military system is necessary In time of peace if we ar arC are to remain at peace Aggressors Aggressors Ag Ag- in the past relying on our apparent lack Jack of military force have h unwisely precipitated war var Although they have been led to destruction by their misconception misconception misconception mis mis- conception of our strength we have paid a terrible price for our I Universal training Is the only feasible means by which the ci civilian civilian ci- ci vilian components of our armed forces can be built up to the the strength required If we are to be I prepared for emergencies Our i iI I ability to mobilize large numbers of trained men In time of ot emergency emergency emergency emer emer- gency could forestall future conflict conflict con con- and together with other measures of or national policy could restore stability to the world The adoption of universal training train ing by the United States at this time Ume would be unmistakable le evidence evidence evi evi- dence to all aU the world orId of our pur det determination determination de de- de- de t termination to back th the the will to peace with the strength for tor peace peace I am convinced that the decision of ot the American people expressed through the congress to adopt universal training would be of first importance in giving courage to every free government in the world Urges Draft Third I recommend the temporary tem tern ry reenactment of at selective service legislation in order to maintain our armed forces at their authorized strength Our armed forces lack the necessary necessary essary men to maintain their authorized authorized authorized au au- au- au strength They have been I unable to maintain their authorIzed authorized author author- authorIzed strength through voluntary enlistments even though such strength has been reduced to the very minimum necessary to meet our obligations abroad and is 18 far farbelow farbelow farbelow below the minimum which h should always be available in the continental coat conti United States We cannot meet our International international responsibilities unless we maintain our armed forces It is of ot vital importance for example that we keep our occupation forces In Germany until the peace Is la secure secure secure se se- se- se cure in Europe There is no conflict between the requirements of selective service sen for lor the regular forces and universal ersal training for the tIne reserve reler components Selective service is necessary until the solid foundation of ot training can be established g W service can CJan then Vie bete 1 and the regular may then be maintained d c bifi ar voluntary basis A. The recommendations recommendation I Imade t made represent the In most st ur steps toward securing the p pu pe and preventing war t We must be ready to take Uke e wise and necessary step t to out this great purpose purposed n require assistance to other It will require an adequate adequate's u balanced military strength V must b be prepared to pay th the p r of peace or assuredly we the price of f war 1 Ready Beady Anxious Anxious' We In the United States Statu ri rent determined to seek by every ever every sible means a Just and hon hona basis for tor the settlement of national Issues We shall cob cofi to give our strong the United Nations as the p pi means for International Ie i based on law not on force shall remain ready and join with all nations nation nations nations-I I ru with all nations nations nations-in in every effort to r reach ach international B standing land and agre agreement ment f The door has never be benor been elisi nor will it ever be closed cloedt la Soviet Sovet Union Unon or any other others othera which will genuinely preserving the peace j At the same time we must be confused about the central Is which confronts the world today The time has come when themen the fi men and women of at the world B face face the threat to their libs squarely and courageously j The United States State has hu tn t I responsibility to 10 act act i cording to the measure of of-o of c pow i for tor good in the world j have learned that we the peace we seek just lt U earned victory In war not by |
