War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; The Weapon of Choice; 102; Twelve Nations Sign North Atlantic Pact

Washington D.C. the date April 4th 1949 and here within these walls one of the great treaties of human history is about to be signed leading statesmen of the Western world have collaborated in working out an agreement. They meet to set their signatures to the North Atlantic Treaty and thereby proclaim that in the words of the pact they are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defense for the preservation of peace and secure. These nations are determined to uphold the principles of democracy individual liberty and the rule of law. They represent three hundred and thirty two million persons spread over one sixth of the earth's surface. Twelve nations joining together in the pact all Belgium Canada Denmark France Iceland Italy Luxembourg the Netherlands Norway Portugal the United Kingdom and the United States on behalf of the United States the participating nations were welcomed by the Honorable Dean Acheson

secretary of state on behalf of the government and the people of the United States. I welcome warmly into our country and our capital. The foreign ministers who have assembled here to sign the North Atlantic Treaty we are honored by their presence both as individuals who have done much for peace. And as representatives of nations and peoples who have contributed to the welfare and progress of mankind. We are met together to consummate. Those who participated in the drafting of this treaty must leave judgement of the significance and value of this act. They cannot appraise the achievement but they. Should have the purposes of. Peace. It is a guide to refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble for those who set their feet upon

the path of aggression. It is a warning that if needs be. Then woe unto them cometh. From this act. Take good people from this joint purpose for the future and coverage will accrue. Not only to the people of the Atlantic community. But of the world community. And at the conclusion of speeches by the foreign ministers endorsing the pact. The ceremony was highlighted by the arrival of President Truman to deliver the major United States address. There actually is his.

Fellow citizen. I miss his tiger cation. I am happy to welcome the foreign ministers of the countries which together with the United States. Arm the North Atlantic community of nations. The purpose of this meeting. Is to take the first step. Toward putting into effect an international agreement to safeguard the peace and prosperity of this community of nations. It is altogether appropriate that the nation is so deeply conscious of their common interests. John in expressing their determination to preserve their present situation and to protect it in the future the nations represented here have known the tragedy of two wars. As a result many of us took part in the founding of the United Nations. Each member of the United Nations is under solemn obligation. To maintain international peace and security. Each is bound to

settle international disputes by peaceful means to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territory or independence of any country and to support the United Nations. And any action it takes to preserve the peace. That solemn pledge. That abiding obligation. We affirm here today within the United Nations this country and other countries hope to establish an international force for the use of the United Nations in preserving peace throughout the world. Our efforts to establish this force however. Have been blocked. By one of the major powers in this treaty. We seek to establish freedom from aggression and from the use of force in the North Atlantic community. This is the area which has been at the heart of the last two world conflicts to protect this area

against our will be a long step toward peace in the whole world. There are those who claim that this treaty is an aggressive act. On the part of the nations which rang the North Atlantic. That is absolutely true. And taking steps to prevent aggression against our own people we have no purpose of aggression against other people. To suggest the contrary is to institutions and defame and our aspirations and nations represented here are bound together by ties of longstanding common heritage of democracy individual liberty and rule over all. They are the ties of a peaceful way of life. In this pact we are merely giving them recognition to make this problem successfully. We must have a world in which we can exchange the

products of our labor not only among ourselves but with other nations. We've come together in our great cooperative economic effort to establish this kind of a world where they're determined to work together to provide better lives for our people without sacrificing our common ideals of justice and human worth. We cannot succeed if people are haunted by that constant fear of aggression and burdened by the cost of preparing their nations individually against attack. We believe that it is possible for nations to achieve unity on the great principles of human freedom and justice and at the same time to permit in other respects the greatest diversity of which the human mind is capable. For US war is not in evidence. We do not believe that there are tides of history which sweep men one way or another in our own time we've seen brave men overcome obstacles that seemed insurmountable

and forces that same overwhelming men with courage and vision can still determine their own destiny. They can choose slavery our freedom our peace. I have no doubt which they will choose. The treaty we are signing here today is evidence of the path they will follow if there is anything starting today. If there is anything in evitable in the future it is the will of the people of the world for our freedom and for peace.