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

104 HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE MARCH 15, 1947 CONFIDENTIAL: The following statement by the President MUST BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE until released. NOTE: Release is automatic at 10:00 A.M., E.S.T., today, Saturday, March 15, 1947. The same release applies to all newspapers, radio announcers and news broadcasters. Please guard against premature publication or radio announcement. EBEN A. AYERS STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT I have just received two warm and appreciative messages from NARA' Greece, one from Prime Minister Maximos and one from Mr. Themistocles Sophoulis, leader of the Parliamentary Opposition. Both of these messages welcome the prospect of the kind of American assistance which I recently requested Congress to authorize, and pledge the wholehearted support of the Greek people in devoting any aid that may be forthcoming to the purpose of constructive rehabilitation and the cause of peace and freedom. These two statements bear witness to the fact that all of the Greek Parliament, including the Opposition as well as those parties now represented in the Coalition cabinet, are prepared to cooperate unreservedly with the United States Government in its desire to assist Greece in restoring those basic conditions of economic stability and internal order which will allow the Greek people to build their future in peace and security. I sincerely hope that these evidences of goodwill mark the beginning of a happier era for Greece, in which all loyal citizens will contribute their share toward the restoration of a country of whose democratic history they may be proud. It is also my profound hope that those Greeks who have taken up arms against their government will accept with confidence the amnesty which the Greek Government is extending to all except those guilty of crimes against the common law. The Greek people, aware of the sympathetic interest of the American people, will, I am sure, rally their strength to vitalize their national life, forgetting past excesses and looking courageously toward a hopeful future. Following are the texts of the messages to the President from Prime Minister Maximos and Mr. Sophoulis: His Excellency Harry Truman, President of the United States, The White House, Washington, D. C. My dear Mr. President: It is with great emotion that I hasten to express to you the gratitude of the Greek Government, as well as my own, for your momentous address to Congress. It is destined to have a decisive influence on the future of the world, and especially on that of our Greek people, a significant encouragement in the just and noble struggle they are waging for the principles of freedom and democracy. You are aware that the Greek people have long ago chosen between the two ways of life which constitute at the present historical moment the only choice for the peoples of the world. This way of life, which is based upon the will of the majority and distinguished