Press Release, Speech by President Harry S. Truman

#2622 AS ACTUALLY DELIVERED OCTOBER 17, 1950 The following address of the President at the War Memorial Opera House in San Franciseo at 8:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time (11:30 P.M., E.S.T. ) MAYOR ROBINSON, FELLOW CITIZENS: I have just returned from Wake Island, where I had a very satisfactory conference with General Douglas MacArthur. I understand that there has been speculation about why I made this trip, There is really no mystery about it. I went because I wanted to see and talk to General MacArthur. The best way to see him and talk to him is to meet him somewhere and talk to him. There is no substitute for personal conversation with the commander in the field who knows the problems there from first- hand experience. He has information at his fingertips which can be of help to all of us in deciding upon the right policies in these critical times. I went out to Wake Island to see General MacArthur because ducting I did not very want important to take him operations far away with from great Korea, success. where he Events is con- are moving swiftly over there now, and I did not feel that he should be away from his post too long. At the same time I believed my trip to Wake Island would give emphasis to the. historic action taken by the United Nations on Korea. For Korea has, become the symbol of the resistance of a united humanity against aggression. I also felt thát there was pressing need to make it per- fectly clear -- by my talk with General MacArthur -- that there is complete unity in the aims and conduct of our foreign policy. I have come back from this conference with increased con- fidence in our long-range ability to maintain world peace. At Wake Island we talked over the Far Eastern situation and its relationship to the problem of world peace. I asked General MacArthur for his ideas on the ways in which the United States can most effectively assist the United Nations in promot- ing and maintaining peace and security throughout the Pacific area. We discussed Japan and the need for an early Japanese peace treaty. Both of us look forward with confidence to a new Japan which will be. peaceful and prosperous. General MacArthur told me about the fighting in Korea. He described the magnificent achievements of all the United Nations forces serving under his command. Along with the soldiers of the Republic of Korea these forces have now turned back the tidu of aggression. More fighting men are coming from free nations all over the world. I am confident that these forces will soon restore peace to the whole of Korea. is Preservation Copy NDMIN." is S.