White House Press Release, Address by President Harry S. Truman to the United States Congress

90 HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE MARCH 17, 1948. CONFIDENTIAL: The following address of the President, to be delivered before a joint session of the Congress today, March 17, 1948, MUST BE HELD IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE and no portion, synopsis or intimation may be given out, broadcast or published UNTIL DELIVERY HAS BEGUN. EXTREME CARE MUST BE EXERCISED TO AVOID PREMATURE PUBLICATION OR RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT The same caution applies to all newspapers, radio commentators and news broadcasters, both in the United States and abroad. CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President MR. PRESIDENT, MR. SPEAKER, MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS: I am here today to report to you on the critical nature of the situation in Europe, and to recommend action NARA for your consideration. Rapid changes are taking ace in Europe which affect our foreign policy and our national security. There is an increasing threat to nations which are striving to main- tain a form of government which grants freedom to its citizens. The United States is deeply concerned with the survival of freedom in those nations. It is of vital importance that we act now, in order to preserve the conditions under which we can achieve lasting peace based on freedom and justice. The achievement of such a peace has been the great goal of this nation. Almost three years have elapsed since the end of the greatest of all wars, but peace and stability have not returned to the world. We were well aware that the end of the fighting would not automatically settle the problems arising out of the war. The establishment of peace after the fighting is over has always been a difficult task. And even if all the Allies of World War II were united in their desire to establish a just and honorable peace, there would still be great difficulties in the way of achieving that goal. But the situation in the world today is not primarily the result of the natural difficulties which follow a great war. It is chiefly due to the fact that one nation has not only refused to cooperate in the establishment of a just and honorable peace, but -- even worse -- has actively sought to prevent it. The Congress is familiar with the course of events. You know of the sincere and patient attempts of the democratic nations to find a secure basis for peace through negotiation and agreement. Conference after conference has been held in different parts of the world. We have tried to settle the questions arising out of the war on a basis which would permit the establishment of a just peace. You know the obstacles we have encountered. But the record stands as a monument to the good faith and integrity of the democratic nations of the world. The agreements we did obtain, imperfect though they were, could have furnished the basis for a just peace -- if they had been kept. (OVER)