White House Press Release, Statement by President Harry S. Truman

1403 HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 2, 1947 443 CONFIDENTIAL: The following statement by the President MUST BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE for release simultaneously with the accompanying report to the President by the Secretary of the Interior on conditions of the Navajo Indians, and no portion or synopsis may be given out or published in advance. NOTE: Release of the statement by the President and the report is automatic at 6:00 P.M., E.S.T., today, December 2, 1947. The same release applies to all newspapers, radio announcers and news commentators. Please guard against premature publication or radio announcement. CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT NARA Recently I requested the Secretary of the Interior to report to me on the emergency situation facing the Navajo Indians in Arizona and New Mexico this winter. Secretary Krug has submitted the attached report, which describes the reasons why the Navajos are threatened with hunger and cold this winter and the steps which have been taken by the Federal Government, under the leadership of the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior, to prevent suffering. In addition to the funds for relief regularly appropriated by the Congress last summer, substantial amounts of surplus food, clothing, and equipment have been made available to the Navajos by the Government. At Secretary Krug's suggestion I have asked the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the War Assets Administrator to con- tinue the steps they are taking to alleviate suffering and to forestall a serious collapse in the Navajo community life. It is fortunate that the Government has available these resources which can help meet the immediate problem. The tribe itself has also made available a substantial amount of its limited funds for relief of its members. It seems, nevertheless, that additional relief appropriations by the Congress will prove neces- sary later in the winter. The Secretary's report makes clear that the problems of the Navajos will not be solved merely by providing relief for them this winter. Long-range problems of health, education, and productive em- ployment must be earnestly considered by the Federal Government, the States concerned, and the Indians themselves. I expect to submit to the next regular session of the Congress my recommendations for the Federal Government's part in a long-range program of rehabilitation for the Navajos. Our basic purpose is to assist the Navajos -- and other Indians to become healthy, enlightened, and self-supporting citizens, able to enjoy the full fruits of our democracy and to contribute their share to the prosperity of our country. We must give our full support to the achievement of this goal. Only by so doing can we meet the obligation of our democracy to this group of our citizens.