White House Press Release, Address of President Harry S. Truman in Mexico City, Mexico

89 #103 HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE February 28, 1947 CAUTION: The following address of the President, to be delivered in Mexico City, MUST BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE until delivery has begun. NOTE: Release is expected about 9:35 P.M., CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, Monda March 3, 1947. The same release applies to radio announcers and news commentators. CARE MUST BE EXERCISED TO PREVENT PREMATURE PUBLICATION. CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President My presence here today as the guest of the great Republic of Mexico is one of the truly happy occasions of my career. I am deeply moved to be here again, among my friends and neighbors. I have wanted to return to Mexico ever since November, 1939, when I visited this city and enjoyed the memorable hospitality of the Mexican Congress. To my good friend, President Miguel Aleman, and to all the people of Mexico, I say from the bottom of my heart: Thank you for your gracious welcome. It is a common failing of many people to complain of hardships and overlook their good fortune. In the international sphere, many people emphasize the disagreements that separate nations and forget the large areas of agreement that bring nations together in nutual under- standing. It would be foolish to pretend that fundamental differences in political philosophies do not exist. The task of achieving permanent peace and security for all mankind is not easy, but I am certain that permanent peace and security are the goal of all peoples everywhere, whatever their language, or nationality, race, or crood. Because of my belief that the peoples of the world have pace as a common objective, I refuse to be discouraged by apparent difficulties, Difficulties are a challenge to mon of determination. If a realistic view of the world takes full account of the differences that separate nations, it must also take full account of the common beliefs that unite nations. Nowhere is this element of unity unity of heart and mind -- more evident that in the neighborly cof- munity of the American republics. Here we recognize clearly that, as you have stated SO concisely and eloquently, Mr. President, "together we must live and together we must prosper." Here WO have already achieved in substantial measure what the world as a whole must achieve. Through wat we call our Inter- American System, which has become steadily stronger for half a century, we have learned to work togother and to solve our problems by friendly cooperation and nutual respect. To have a Good Neighbor Polity in common and, as a result of the sincere application of that policy, We form a good neighborhood. Our example has a salutary effect on the whole world. The success of our cherised Inter-American System is a'source of inspiration for the developing system of the United Nations, of W hich we are all members. We are united by more than the common procedures and agencies of Inter-American cooperation. All our peoples have a common belief which we call "democracy". Democracy has a spiritual foundation be- cause it is based upon the brotherhood of man. We believe in the dignity of the individual. We believe that the function of the state is to preserve and promote human rights and fundamental freedons. We believe that the state exists for the benefit of man, not that man exists for the benefit of the state. Everything else that we mean by the word "democracy" arises from this fundamental conviction. Wo believe that each individual must have as much liberty for the conduct of his life as in compatible with the rights of others. To put this belief into practice is the essential prupose of our laws. (OVER)