And here at home, our defense preparations are far from complete.

During 1951 we did not make adequate progress in building up civil defense against atomic attack.  This is a major weakness in our plans for peace, since inadequate civilian defense is an open invitation to a surprise attack.  Failure to provide adequate civilian defense has the same effect as adding to the enemy’s supply of atomic bombs.

In the field of defense production we have run into difficulties and delays in designing and producing the latest types of airplanes and tanks.  Some machine tools and metals are still in extremely short supply.

In other free countries the defense buildup has created severe economic problems.  It has increased inflation in Europe and has endangered the continued recovery of our allies.

In the Middle East political tensions and the oil controversy in Iran are keeping the region in a turmoil.  In the Far East the dark threat of Communist imperialism still hangs over many nations.

This, very briefly, is the good side and the bad side of the picture.

Taking the good and bad together, we have made real progress this last year along the road to peace.  We have increased the power and unity of the free world.  And while we were doing this, we have avoided world war on the one hand, and appeasement on the other.  This is a hard road to follow, but the events of the last year show that it is the right road to peace.

We cannot expect to complete the job overnight.  The free nations may have to maintain for years the larger military forces needed to deter aggression.  We must build steadily, over a period of years, toward political solidarity and economic progress among the free nations in all parts of the world.

Our task will not be easy; but if we go at it with a will, we can look forward to steady progress.  On our side are all the great resources of freedom—­the ideals of religion and democracy, the aspiration of people for a better life, and the industrial and technical power of a free civilization.

These advantages outweigh anything the slave world can produce.  The only thing that can defeat us is our own state of mind.  We can lose if we falter.

The middle period of a great national effort like this is a very difficult time.  The way seems long and hard.  The goal seems far distant.  Some people get discouraged.  That is only natural.

But if there are any among us who think we ought to ease up in the fight for peace, I want to remind them of three things—­just three things.

First:  The threat of world war is still very real.  We had one Pearl Harbor—­let’s not get caught off guard again.  If you don’t think the threat of Communist armies is real, talk to some of our men back from Korea.

Second:  If the United States had to try to stand alone against a Soviet-dominated world, it would destroy the life we know and the ideals we hold dear.  Our allies are essential to us, just as we are essential to them.  The more shoulders there are to bear the burden the lighter that burden will be.