I
'Shield Against Aggression'
US Joins 11 Western Nations in Security Pact
WASHINGTON — (AP) The
scratch of pen on parchment late
yesterday raised over the west
ern Atlantic nations what Presi
dent Truman called “a shield
against aggression”—their mu
tual security pact.
The actual signing of the 12
nation alliance capped nine
months of preliminary negotia
tions and more than two hours of
ceremonious high diplomatic pag
eantry.
President Truman came to the
scene of the ceremony—the gov
ernment’s departmental audito
ium—to speak for 15 minut.es.
In his flat mid-western tones,
he earnestly emphasized that the
treaty’s whole purpose is peace
ful—that it aims to be “a shield
against aggression and the fear
of aggression.”
Mr. Truman said, too, that if
there had been such a “simple
document” in 1914 and 1939 the
world would liave escaped two
terrible wars of this half century.
When Mr. Truman entered the
hall to the strains of “Hail to the
Chief” from the Marine Band or
chestra he shook hands with each
of the visiting foreign ministers.
Within a minute after Mr. Tru
man finished, Belgium premier
and foreign minister, Paul-Henry
Spaak became the first of the 12
foreign ministers to sign the pact.
His ambassador to the U.S., Bar
A Gamble for Peace
In solemn assembly in Washington yesterday twelve west
ern nations pooled their collective will for peace by signing a
historic document—The Atlantic Treaty.
The signing was the last step-but-one to final fulfillment of
the general idea that the anticommunist western nations
should ally themselves in a “one for all” defense against Rus
sia. The final step is ratification of the treaty by the home gov
ernments of the nations signing it.
In the United States ratification means approval by a two
thirds vote of the senate. President Truman last week express
ed confidence that the pact will be ratified by the upper cham
ber.
Will the treaty prevent a third world war?
Alliances of this type have seldom, if ever, prevented war.
On the contrary, such arrangements have usually become an
incitement to war by creating large-scale armament races.
However, Russia's aggressive policy of expansion since the
end of World War II has left little for the western countries to
do but band together. A unified front has become a necessary
instrument to meet Russian aggression.
The chance seems slim, indeed, that the Atlantic Treaty
can lead to peace by containing Russia with a ring of armed na
tions.
It’s a gamble which Russia, however, has forced upon us
and one that we believe is worth taking.
A Few Sage Words
The New Yorker left off being flippant recently to saw a few
words on academic freedom, some of which we feel bear repeat
ing here.
The magazine has the uneasy feeling that the firing of uni
versity professors during the past eighteen months strongly
resembles a political purge. They feel that the nervous tension
resulting from this near-purge "abets Communism by making
millions of highly fit Americans a little cautious, a little fearful
of having naughty 'thought,' a little fearful of believing differ
ently from the next man, a little worried about associating with
a group or party or club."
If such is true, it is a distinctly unhealthy situation. Unheal
thy too is the system adopted by some universities in the coun
• try of teaching straight Americanism—whatever that may be.
The New Yorker considers this dangerous since it identifies
the universities with a national philosophy, thus sacrificing the
elasticity wherein lies the strength of democracy.
The New Yorker is more inclined to agree with President
Eisenhower’s firm statement that Columbia, while admiring
one idea, will examine all ideas. "We believe with President
Eisenhower that a university can best demonstrate freedom by
not closing its doors to antithetical ideas. We believe that tea
chers should be fired not in blocks of three for political wrong
ness but in blocks of one for unfitness. A campus is unique. It
is above and beyond government. It is on the highest plane of
life. Those who live there know the smell of good air, and they
always take pains to spell truth with a small ‘t.‘ This is its sec
ret strength and its contribution to the web of freedom: this is
why the reading room of a college library is the very temple of
democracy."
We agree with these words but it seems that the last sen
tence could stand qualification. The reading room of a college
library should be the very temple of democracy, and one of the
tragedies of higher education is that it sometimes fails to hit the
mark. During the last eighteen months these failures have re
ceived national publicity.
It might be wise if university administrations and boards of
regents left off Red-hunting long enough to do a little soul
searching. B. B.
on Silvercruys also signed for Bel
gium.
Canada was next as the signa
tures went on in alphabetical or
der by countries. It took about
two minutes for each country to
sign.
Last, to sign was the United
States.
It was 4:51 p.m. (EST) when
Secretary of State Dean Acheson
anti President Truman caine for
ward to the front of the rostrum.
Mr. Truman called Vice-Presi
dent Alben Barkley and gave him
a hand in mounting the platform
from the audience. They then
stood at Acheson’s right hand
while the secretary of state
signed the treaty.
Mr. Truman shook hands with
Barkley as Acheson wrote his
name on the treaty.
The entire signing' ceremony,
from the end of Mr. Truman’s
walk to the last flourish of Ache
son’s pen, had taken only about
12 minutes.
Acheson, as presiding officer
at the ceremony, then stated the
provision in the treaty itself that
PRESIDENT TRUMAN
Upholds Atlantic Treaty
the seven nations which original
ly negotiated the pact would
have to ratify it before it could
come into force.
Same Old Stand
By Toni Marquis
This weekend puts a strain on
stay at homes, and since I am
not one of same I am taking the
easy way out
this time. Fol
lows a few in
significant, o r
at least non
world shaking'
items. It’s much
easier than try
ing to think up
something orig
inal.
To c a m pus
Housemother's:
concerned:
“I disapprove of what you say,
but I will defend to the death
your right to say it.” — VOL
TAIRE.
MISCONSTRUE: to get the
wrong meaning from; to put a
false interpretation upon—WIN
STON COLLEGE DICTIONARY.
It was nice to see Allen West
on campus again looking as chip
per as ever after a lengthy ill
ness. Glad to have you back, Al.
From the CALL ME KILLJOY
department, and especially ap
propriate after these last couple
of days—
. . . Behold yon band,
Students drinking by the door,
Madly merry, bock in hand.
Saucers stacked to mark their
score.
Get you gone, you jolly scamps;
Let your parting glasses clink;
Seek your long neglected
lamps:
It is later than you think.
from BALLADS OF A BO
HEMIAN
by Robert Service.
Because of certain changes in
weather conditions plans for the
Marquis Controlled Weather
World Encompassing Plastic -
Bubble have been shelved for the
time being. However, I am now'
enough of an Oregonian to know'
that it won’t be long before the
need for such a project will again
become self evident.
I have been informed that Al
pha Gam Donna Babb does not
want her name to appear in this
column because of the notoriety
that will then be forthcoming.
Now I wouldn’t wrant to do any
thing that didn’t agree with Don
na Babb, so her name will not ap
pear in this column.
Is that O.K., Donna?
“All the girls tote little cases
Designed for making up their
faces.
I wish they had some other
kinds
Designe’d for making up their
minds.”
Pi Kap pledge Ray Beyer has
blossomed out like a flowering
peach tree since spring hit the
campus.
One of the nice things about
Ray is his impartiality. It doesn’t
matter if a girl is Greek or In
dependent to him as long as she
is a girl.
It’s tough to be popular, isn’t
it, Ray ? *
* * *
ANSWERING THE WEEK’S
MAIL department:
There wasn’t any.
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A few seconds after 4:52 p.m.,
the president and the foreign
ministetrs left the rostrum. The
audience remained seated at Ach
eson’s suggestion.
Mr. Truman was the last
speaker before the signing of the
historic pledge that the 12 non
communist nations of the Atlan
tic community will stand togeth
er if any one of them is attacked.
Without mentioning Russia*
the president rejected the Soviet
claim that the alliance is aimed
at aggression. He said:
“There are those who claim
that this treaty is an aggressive
act on the part of the nations
which ring the North Atlantic.
“This is absolutely untrue.”
Instead, he said, its whole aim
is peace, pegged to this convic
tion:
“Men with courage and vision
can still determine their own des
tiny. They can choose slavery or
freedom—war or peace.”
Secretary of State Acheson, in
an address opening the signing
ceremony, described the pact as
a powerful warning to any ag
gressor.
Drawing on the Bible, Acheson
said that to the peace loving the
treaty is “a guide to refuge and
strength’’ and to the aggressor a
warning of “woe unto them by
whom the offense cometh."
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