MUST ASSUME LEADERSHIP

Chronicle (Levin), 8 April 1946, Page 8

MUST ASSUME LEADERSHIP

Press Assn.

AMERICA^S RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEACE PRESIDENT SAYS NO NATION STRONGER

By Telegraph

-Copyfight

Received Sunday, 8.5 p.m. NEW YORK, April 7. ' ' I am not pessimistic ahout the future. I have confidence that there is no international pr-ohlem which cannot ;be solved • through , United Nations,''. said President Truinan i-n -an Army Day' address at Ghicago. "We attained an 'overwhelming victory in a close union with the free, peaceful nations of the world, and in the. same kind of .union with them, and with the help of t Su same her-oic men and women who foughc the war and whom we honour today , we can -attain lasting peace. "The 'United .States is a strong nation; there is none stronger. Tnis is not a, boast; it is a fact calling fOi solemn thought and hnmiiity. It means chat with much strength we must as sume leadership and accept responsi •Diiity. It would be tragic if we permitted ourselves ever to he unpreparej to fultil that responsibility. "We still have much to do. We are determined to remain strong, to carry out our occupation duties, to do otu share i-n supervising fornier enemy Governments, enforcing the peace teriu,-, and disarming and repatriating eneny troops. Only as long .as we remain' strong can we ensure world peace. "Peace has-to be buiit on power foi :good. Justice, goodwill and good deed. are not enough. We cannot prevent un just aggression and oppression if wc scrap our military might. It is otu moral duty to remain strong; .it is u hrm ohligatiom which we have under taken as a meinber of United Nation^. "We can. best maintain our strength and leadership by, firstly, unification 01 all the armed Services; secondly, extension of the Selective -Service Act, thirdly, universal training. "The immediate ohjective of our i'oreign policy is to support Uniteu Nations to the utniost. It is my eonviction that the Security Council is fully capable of reaching agreements between the peoples of the world, hov ever different their traditions aua philosophies and however divergeni their interests. The essential rcquire ments are that memher nations snouiu tollow the dictates of justice and con sider and respect the legitimate aspira tions and needs of f ellow memhers. "We have disarmed J.apan and are promoting xeforms which we hope wil. transform Japan into a democrata'c, peaceful nation. We are working with' j onr Soviet allies and the Korean ieaders j:to create a provisional democr-atic Government in Korea, and we aim to hasuen the time when Korea will he an independent, deinocratic nation. We are supporting a free, democratic Goverament in China. On July 4, the Fhilippine Commonwealth will he a fuily sovereign, independent nation. "We seek to.encourage a quick revival of economic activity .and international trade in the Far 'East. We stand I ready to extend credits and technieai j assistance to help huild peace. We re j cognise that the 'Soviet Union, the British Commonwealth and -other nations have important interests in the iftir East. In return, we expect recog nition hy them that we also have an i interest in maintaining peace and secur ity in that area.

NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST "Turning to the Near East and thc Mid-dle East, we find an area of great economic a-nd strategic importance, presenting grave prohlems hecause the nations there aren't strong enough to withstand powerful aggression. It is easy to see that this area might become an arena of intense rivalry between outside Powers which mignt suddenly erupt into a conflict. United Nations has the right to insist that the sovereignty integrity of such conntries is not threatened hy coercion and penetration. "Turning to Europe, we find fier suffering terrihle pangs of hunger aua starvation. We are fielping Europe be cause we know that we ourselves cannot enjoy prosperity in a world of economic stagnation; also hecause economic distress is a terrihle breeding ground for a violent political upheaval. "Through the international bank we seek to lay the groundwork for a world trading system which will strengtheu and safeguard peace. We want no return to the narrow economic national tsm which poisoned international rela tions and nndermined living standards between the two world wars. "Congress is now considering — -and, I hope, will soon approve — financial agree ments with Britain. These are not being made merely to support a faithfui ally. They are vitally important *to our country as a means of opening world, trade to American enterprise. We shall work to achieve eaual opportunity ir world trade, hecause closed econrfmic blocs in Europe or any place elsewhere only lead to impoverishment and isola tion of the inhabitants. "We shall press for the elimination of artificial harriers to internationanavigation in order that no nation shali he denied unrestricted access to sea* ports and international waterways. ' ' Our country has joined with. all the United Nations in a determined efforfc to devise internationar-action to control atomic energy, so that- the new . force may not destroy hut serve mankind. ' ' The Secretary for War (Mr. Fatter son) said the United States was suffering from a fatal tendency to forget the army. "Our ahility- tfeo-make- our views on the maintainance of peaoe felt throughout the world depends on the power we possess to hack up fully the poiicies we support, ' ' he said. Mr. Patterson renewed his plea i'or universal training, emphasising the need to es^ahlish a reservoir of trainedmen as a defence insurance. General Eisenhower pledged the army's earnest efforts to develop national security as a cornerstone oi the peace structure which must be huilt.