In Europe the Marshall plan has had an electrifying result.  As European recovery progressed, the strikes led by the Kremlin’s agents in Italy and France failed.  All over Western Europe the Communist Party took worse and worse beatings at the polls.

The countries which have received Marshall plan aid have been able, through hard work, to expand their productive strength-in many cases, to levels higher than ever before in their history.  Without this strength they would be completely incapable of defending themselves today.  They are now ready to use this strength in helping to build a strong combined defense against aggression.

We shall need to continue some economic aid to European countries.  This aid should now be specifically related to the building of their defenses.

In other parts of the world our economic assistance will need to be more broadly directed toward economic development.  In the Near East, in Africa, in Asia, we must do what we can to help people who are striving to advance from misery, poverty, and hunger.  We must also continue to help the economic growth of our good neighbors in this hemisphere.  These actions will bring greater strength for the free world.  They will give many people a real stake in the future and reason to defend their freedom.  They will mean increased production of goods they need and materials we need.

Second, we shall need to continue our military assistance to countries which want to defend themselves.

The heart of our common defense effort is the North Atlantic community.  The defense of Europe is the basis for the defense of the whole free world—­ourselves included.  Next to the United States, Europe is the largest workshop in the world.  It is also a homeland of the great religious beliefs shared by many of our citizens beliefs which are now threatened by the tide of atheistic communism.

Strategically, economically, and morally, the defense of Europe is a part of our own defense.  That is why we have joined with the countries of Europe in the North Atlantic Treaty, pledging ourselves to work with them.

There has been much discussion recently over whether the European countries are willing to defend themselves.  Their actions are answering this question.

Our North Atlantic Treaty partners have strict systems of universal military training.  Several have recently increased the term of service.  All have taken measures to improve the quality of training.  Forces are being trained and expanded as rapidly as the necessary arms and equipment can be supplied from their factories and ours.  Our North Atlantic Treaty partners, together, are building armies bigger than our own.

None of the North Atlantic Treaty countries, including our own country, has done enough yet.  But real progress is being made.  Together, we have worked out defense plans.  The military leaders of our own country took part in working out these plans, and are agreed that they are sound and within our capabilities.