Statement by the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)1
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The fact that military aid to Greece and Turkey is contemplated under the proposals now before the Congress of the United States, and the fact that the Soviet representative made a number of references to this in his remarks to the Council at its last meeting, compels me to discuss two further aspects of the matter: first, the question whether the proposed aid to Greece and Turkey would constitute an unwarranted interference in the domestic affairs of those countries, and secondly, whether the proposed action by the United States would be inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
The President’s proposals to Congress have been made pursuant to requests from the established Governments of Greece and Turkey. The Executive did not propose intervention in the domestic affairs of those countries. Moreover, any such intention is specifically repudiated in the report of the Committee on Foreign Relations, recommending favourable action by the Senate on the Bill (S. 938) which provides for assistance to Greece and Turkey. On page 5 of that report, it is stated: “Section 3 provides that, before assistance is furnished, the Governments of Greece and Turkey shall agree to certain reasonable undertakings, [Page 141] consistent with the sovereign independence of these countries, which provide the United States with proper safeguards against the improper utilization of assistance furnished.”
As I have already stated, any agreements entered into with the Governments of Greece and Turkey in this matter, pursuant to this legislation, if passed, will be registered with the United Nations, and the Members of the United Nations will therefore be fully provided with an opportunity to determine if there is any unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of Greece or Turkey.
The report mentioned further states: “Such conditions are not, of course, intended to impair in any manner the sovereign independence or internal security of the two countries.”
Rather than dwell further upon that aspect of the matter, I should prefer to rely upon any comments which the Governments of Greece and Turkey might wish to make at an appropriate time.
Depending on the substance of the legislation finally passed, the proposed military aid might take the form on the one hand, of providing small numbers of advisory personnel, and on the other hand, of providing military supplies and equipment. The purpose of the proposed aid is consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter with respect to the maintenance of the integrity, domestic tranquillity, and security of the State, which are necessary conditions for economic welfare.
The emergency aid proposed both in the military and economic fields is in support of the United Nations policy of creating conditions of stability and well-being, which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.
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- Made before the Security Council on April 10, 1947; reprinted from United Nations, Official Records of the Security Council, Second Year, No. 35, pp. 746–747. For Ambassador Austin’s letter of May 8 to the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, see Department of State Bulletin, June 1, 1947, p. 1074.↩