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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED1: Text version below transcribed2 directly from audio.]
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Congress of the United States:
The gravity of the situation which confronts the world today necessitates3 my appearance before a joint4 session of the Congress. The foreign policy and the national security of this country are involved. One aspect of the present situation, which I present to you at this time for your consideration and decision, concerns Greece and Turkey. The United States has received from the Greek Government an urgent appeal for financial and economic assistance. Preliminary reports from the American Economic Mission now in Greece and reports from the American Ambassador in Greece corroborate5 the statement of the Greek Government that assistance is imperative6 if Greece is to survive as a free nation.
I do not believe that the American people and the Congress wish to turn a deaf ear to the appeal of the Greek Government. Greece is not a rich country. Lack of sufficient natural resources has always forced the Greek people to work hard to make both ends meet. Since 1940, this industrious7, peace loving country has suffered invasion, four years of cruel enemy occupation, and bitter internal strife8.
When forces of liberation entered Greece they found that the retreating Germans had destroyed virtually all the railways, roads, port facilities, communications, and merchant marine9. More than a thousand villages had been burned. Eighty-five percent of the children were tubercular. Livestock10, poultry11, and draft animals had almost disappeared. Inflation had wiped out practically all savings12. As a result of these tragic13 conditions, a militant14 minority, exploiting human want and misery15, was able to create political chaos16 which, until now, has made economic recovery impossible.
Greece is today without funds to finance the importation of those goods which are essential to bare subsistence. Under these circumstances, the people of Greece cannot make progress in solving their problems of reconstruction17. Greece is in desperate need of financial and economic assistance to enable it to resume purchases of food, clothing, fuel, and seeds. These are indispensable for the subsistence of its people and are obtainable only from abroad. Greece must have help to import the goods necessary to restore internal order and security, so essential for economic and political recovery. The Greek Government has also asked for the assistance of experienced American administrators18, economists19, and technicians to insure that the financial and other aid given to Greece shall be used effectively in creating a stable and self-sustaining economy and in improving its public administration.
The very existence of the Greek state is today threatened by the terrorist activities of several thousand armed men, led by Communists, who defy the government's authority at a number of points, particularly along the northern boundaries. A Commission appointed by the United Nations security Council is at present investigating disturbed conditions in northern Greece and alleged21 border violations23 along the frontiers between Greece on the one hand and Albania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia on the other.
Meanwhile, the Greek Government is unable to cope with the situation. The Greek army is small and poorly equipped. It needs supplies and equipment if it is to restore authority of the government throughout Greek territory. Greece must have assistance if it is to become a self-supporting and self-respecting democracy. The United States must supply this assistance. We have already extended to Greece certain types of relief and economic aid. But these are inadequate24. There is no other country to which democratic Greece can turn. No other nation is willing and able to provide the necessary support for a democratic Greek government.
The British Government, which has been helping25 Greece, can give no further financial or economic aid after March 31st. Great Britain finds itself under the necessity of reducing or liquidating26 its commitments in several parts of the world, including Greece.
We have considered how the United Nations might assist in this crisis. But the situation is an urgent one, requiring immediate27 action, and the United Nations and its related organizations are not in a position to extend help of the kind that is required.
It is important to note that the Greek Government has asked for our aid in utilizing28 effectively the financial and other assistance we may give to Greece, and in improving its public administration. It is of the utmost importance that we supervise the use of any funds made available to Greece in such a manner that each dollar spent will count toward making Greece self-supporting, and will help to build an economy in which a healthy democracy can flourish.
No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues29 of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed20 out and corrected. The Government of Greece is not perfect. Nevertheless it represents eighty-five percent of the members of the Greek Parliament who were chosen in an election last year. Foreign observers, including 692 Americans, considered this election to be a fair expression of the views of the Greek people.
The Greek Government has been operating in an atmosphere of chaos and extremism. It has made mistakes. The extension of aid by this country does not mean that the United States condones30 everything that the Greek Government has done or will do. We have condemned32 in the past, and we condemn31 now, extremist measures of the right or the left. We have in the past advised tolerance33, and we advise tolerance now.
Greek's [sic] neighbor, Turkey, also deserves our attention. The future of Turkey, as an independent and economically sound state, is clearly no less important to the freedom-loving peoples of the world than the future of Greece. The circumstances in which Turkey finds itself today are considerably34 different from those of Greece. Turkey has been spared the disasters that have beset35 Greece. And during the war, the United States and Great Britain furnished Turkey with material aid.
Nevertheless, Turkey now needs our support. Since the war, Turkey has sought additional financial assistance from Great Britain and the United States for the purpose of effecting that modernization36 necessary for the maintenance of its national integrity. That integrity is essential to the preservation37 of order in the Middle East. The British government has informed us that, owing to its own difficulties, it can no longer extend financial or economic aid to Turkey. As in the case of Greece, if Turkey is to have the assistance it needs, the United States must supply it. We are the only country able to provide that help.
I am fully38 aware of the broad implications involved if the United States extends assistance to Greece and Turkey, and I shall discuss these implications with you at this time. One of the primary objectives of the foreign policy of the United States is the creation of conditions in which we and other nations will be able to work out a way of life free from coercion39. This was a fundamental issue in the war with Germany and Japan. Our victory was won over countries which sought to impose their will, and their way of life, upon other nations.
To ensure the peaceful development of nations, free from coercion, the United States has taken a leading part in establishing the United Nations. The United Nations is designed to make possible lasting40 freedom and independence for all its members. We shall not realize our objectives, however, unless we are willing to help free peoples to maintain their free institutions and their national integrity against aggressive movements that seek to impose upon them totalitarian regimes. This is no more than a frank recognition that totalitarian regimes imposed upon free peoples, by direct or indirect aggression41, undermine the foundations of international peace, and hence the security of the United States.
The peoples of a number of countries of the world have recently had totalitarian regimes forced upon them against their will. The Government of the United States has made frequent protests against coercion and intimidation42 in violation22 of the Yalta agreement in Poland, Rumania, and Bulgaria. I must also state that in a number of other countries there have been similar developments.
At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished43 by free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio, fixed44 elections, and the suppression of personal freedoms.
I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation45 by armed minorities or by outside pressures.
I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.
I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes.
The world is not static, and the status quo is not sacred. But we cannot allow changes in the status quo in violation of the Charter of the United Nations by such methods as coercion, or by such subterfuges46 as political infiltration47. In helping free and independent nations to maintain their freedom, the United States will be giving effect to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
It is necessary only to glance at a map to realize that the survival and integrity of the Greek nation are of grave importance in a much wider situation. If Greece should fall under the control of an armed minority, the effect upon its neighbor, Turkey, would be immediate and serious. Confusion and disorder48 might well spread throughout the entire Middle East. Moreover, the disappearance49 of Greece as an independent state would have a profound effect upon those countries in Europe whose peoples are struggling against great difficulties to maintain their freedoms and their independence while they repair the damages of war.
It would be an unspeakable tragedy if these countries, which have struggled so long against overwhelming odds50, should lose that victory for which they sacrificed so much. Collapse51 of free institutions and loss of independence would be disastrous52 not only for them but for the world. Discouragement and possibly failure would quickly be the lot of neighboring peoples striving to maintain their freedom and independence.
Should we fail to aid Greece and Turkey in this fateful hour, the effect will be far reaching to the West as well as to the East.
We must take immediate and resolute53 action. I therefore ask the Congress to provide authority for assistance to Greece and Turkey in the amount of $400,000,000 for the period ending June 30, 1948. In requesting these funds, I have taken into consideration the maximum amount of relief assistance which would be furnished to Greece out of the $350,000,000 which I recently requested that the Congress authorize54 for the prevention of starvation and suffering in countries devastated55 by the war.
In addition to funds, I ask the Congress to authorize the detail of American civilian56 and military personnel to Greece and Turkey, at the request of those countries, to assist in the tasks of reconstruction, and for the purpose of supervising the use of such financial and material assistance as may be furnished. I recommend that authority also be provided for the instruction and training of selected Greek and Turkish personnel. Finally, I ask that the Congress provide authority which will permit the speediest and most effective use, in terms of needed commodities, supplies, and equipment, of such funds as may be authorized57. If further funds, or further authority, should be needed for the purposes indicated in this message, I shall not hesitate to bring the situation before the Congress. On this subject the Executive and Legislative58 branches of the Government must work together.
This is a serious course upon which we embark59. I would not recommend it except that the alternative is much more serious. The United States contributed $341,000,000,000 toward winning World War II. This is an investment in world freedom and world peace. The assistance that I am recommending for Greece and Turkey amounts to little more than 1 tenth of 1 percent of this investment. It is only common sense that we should safeguard this investment and make sure that it was not in vain. The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured60 by misery and want. They spread and grow in the evil soil of poverty and strife. They reach their full growth when the hope of a people for a better life has died.
We must keep that hope alive.
The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter61 in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world. And we shall surely endanger the welfare of this nation.
Great responsibilities have been placed upon us by the swift movement of events.
I am confident that the Congress will face these responsibilities squarely.
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certified
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| a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的 | |
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transcribed
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| （用不同的录音手段）转录( transcribe的过去式和过去分词 )； 改编（乐曲）（以适应他种乐器或声部）； 抄写； 用音标标出（声音） | |
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necessitates
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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corroborate
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| v.支持，证实，确定 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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livestock
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| n.家畜，牲畜 | |
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poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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militant
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| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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reconstruction
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| n.重建，再现，复原 | |
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administrators
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| n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师 | |
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economists
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| n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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violations
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| 违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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liquidating
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| v.清算( liquidate的现在分词 )；清除（某人）；清偿；变卖 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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utilizing
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的现在分词 ) | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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condones
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| v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的第三人称单数 ) | |
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condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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tolerance
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| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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modernization
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| n.现代化，现代化的事物 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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intimidation
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| n.恐吓，威胁 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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subjugation
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| n.镇压，平息，征服 | |
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subterfuges
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| n.（用说谎或欺骗以逃脱责备、困难等的）花招，遁词( subterfuge的名词复数 ) | |
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infiltration
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| n.渗透；下渗；渗滤；入渗 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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54
authorize
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| v.授权，委任；批准，认可 | |
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devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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