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e and [Everett M.] Dirksen that the Senate this evening [May 2] acted constructively on this pro- gram in the authorizing legislation. The same has of course happened in the House. But, at the same time, other groups strategically situated in Congress have proclaimed it as their fixed purpose to elash the appropriation for this mainstay of the free world by more than a billion dollars, They cite isolated instances of malfunc- tioning in operational] staffs as an excuse to attack & great program, which for 14 years has been in- dispensable in protecting America’s stake in se- curity, in free-world cooperation, and in global peace. On such grounds and on the erroneous contention that our Mutual Security Program is ineffectual, they would reduce it by 25 percent or more. Every American citizen needs to understand what this would mean. It would be, for America and all the free world, @ crushing defeat in today’s struggle between communistic imperialism and a freedom founded in faith and justice. It would mean, within a matter of months, new international tensions and new international prob- lems of the utmost.gravity for every one of our It would mean the virtual abandonment of an effort which has yielded our Nation greater bene- fits in security, better neighbors, and opportuni- ties for expansion of profitable trade than has been achieved by any comparable expenditures for any other Federal purpose. An America aroused can prevent these calam- itous results, for in this Republic government must respond to the will of the people. Mutual security has never been, nor is it now, Republican or Democratic. Like our own defense program, of which it is an essential part, it is bi- partisan to the core. This program was started 14 years ago by my Democratic predecessor, It was first enacted into law by the Republican 80th Congress. Both political parties, patriotically joined in the national interest, are its parents. And still today both parties are pledged to its support. Here, specifically, are solemn promises made to the American people in the public document: " _.. First, “.... we strongly favor collective de- fense arrangements, .. .” Second, “we believe that... America must 812 support the efforts of underdeveloped countries. ” Third, “. . . we will intensify our cooperation with our neighboring republica, . . .” Here is another set of pledges: First, “we shall continue to support the col- lective security system... .” Second, “where needed, we shall help friendly ~eountries maintain such local forces and economic strength as provide a first bulwark against Com- munist aggression or subversion.” Third, “we will continue efforts with friends and allies to assist the underdeveloped areas of the free world... .” Now in their meaning, these two sets of pledges are identical. The first three are in the Democratic platform of 1956, The last three are in the Re- publican platform of the same year, These com- mitments still stand. America has the right to expect both parties to keep their word. Achievements of Mutual Security Indeed, even beyond the call of integrity, both parties have excellent reason to doso. For mutual security has effectively supported freedom every- where on earth. It has made possible a greater and mutually advantageous trade. No other in- vestment has yielded greater dividends in terms of stability, security, and free-world morale, This is the program that helped to save Greece from Communist guerrillas. It helped to rescue Turkey from economic collapse, restoring this crit- ical area as a bastion of freedom. It helped to maintain Western Europe as a center of free— rather than Communist—power and production. The importance of these victories is incalculable; every one of our citizens is today the stronger, the more prosperous, the more secure, thanks to mu- tual security, In Asia, under SEATO [Southeast Asia Treaty Organization] and other security treaties, a mil- lion soldiers stand as a bulwark of liberty—sus- tained, again, by mutual security. As I speak tonight, our economic and military help gives support to the military might of 42 other nations, which stand poised in freedom’s cause. For this they—and we—give heartfelt thanks to mutual security. programs help struggling millions better their Department of State Bulletin On five continents our economic and technical ~~