Brief intr0duction to the speaker:

Harry Truman (1884-1972) in the afternoon of April 12, 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died. That evening, at 7fO9 P.M., Vice-President Harry S. Truman took the oath of office as the 33rd president of the United States. On Dec. 31, 1946, President Truman declared an end to the period of World War ll hostilities. Early in 1947 the British said they could not support the Greek government after March 31. Many diplomats feared that the Soviet Union would then spread its power throughout the Middle East. President Truman met the problem by asking Congress for 400 million dollars to aid Greece and Turkey. Congress appropriated the money. This policy of aid, popularly known as the Truman Doctrine, was an American challenge to Soviet ambitions throughout the world.

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Congress of the United States:

The gravity of the situation which confronts the world today necessitates my appearance before a grand session of the Congress. The foreign policy and the national security of this country are involved. One aspect of the present situation which I present to you at this time for your consideration and decision concerns Greece and Turkey

The United States has received from the Greek government an urgent appeal for financia1 and economic assistance. Preliminary report from the American Economic Mission now in Greece, and reports from the American ambassador in Greece, collaborate the statement of the Greek government that assistance is imperative if Greece is to survive as a free nation. I do not believe that the American people and the Congress wish to turn a deaf ear to the appeal of the Greek government.

Greece is not a rich country Lack of sufficient natural resources has airways forced the Greek people to work hard to lnake both ends meet. Since 194O, this industrious, peace-loving country has suffered invasion, four years of cruei, enemy-occupation, and bitter internal strife. When forces of Liberation entered Greece, they found that the retreating Germans had destroyed virtually all the rai1ways, roads, port facilities, communications, and merchant marine. More than a thousand villages had been burned, eighty-five percent of the children were tuberculated, livestock, poultry and drall animals had almost disappeared, inflation had wiped out practica1Iy a1I savings. As a result of these tragic conditions, a militant minority exploiting human mores and miseryl was able to create po1itica1 chaos which until now has made economic recovery impossible. Greece is today without fullds to finance the importation of those goods that are essential to bare subsistence. Under these circumstances, the peop1e of Greece cannot make progress in solving their problems of reconstruction. Greece is in desperate need of financial and economic assistance to enable it to resume purchases of food, clothing, fuel, and seeds. These are indispensable for the subsistence of its people and are obtainable only from abroad. Greece must have help to import the goods necessary to restore internal order and security so essential for economic and political recovery

The Greek government has also asked for the assistance of experienced American administrators, economists, and technicians, to ensure that the financial and other aid given to Greece shall be used effectively in creating a stable and self-sustaining economy and in improving its public administration.

The very existence of the Greek state is today threatened by the Lerrorist activities of several thousand armed men, led by Communists, who defy the government's authority at a number of points, particularly along the northern boundaries A commission appointed by the tJnited Natiolls Security Council is at present investigating disturbed conditiol1s in northern Greece, and alleged border violations along the tiontier between Greece on the one hand and A1bania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia on the other. Meanwhi1e, the Greek government is unable to cope with the situation. The Greek army is small and poorly equipped. It needs supplies and equipment. if it is to restore authority to the government throughout Greek territory Greece must have a system if it is to become a self supporting and self respecting democracy

The United States must supply this assistance. We have already extended to Greece certain types of relic and economic aid, but these are inadequate. There is no other country to which democratic Greece can turn. No other nation is willing, and able, to provide the necessary support for a democratic Greek government. We must take immediate and resolute action.

I therefore ask the Congress to provide authority for assistance to Greece and Turkey in the amount of 4 hundred million dollars for the period ending JuT1e 30, 1948. In requesting these funds, I have taken into consideration the maximum amount of relief assistance which would be furnished to Greece out of the 350 million dollars which I recently requested that the Congress authorize for the prevention of starvation and suffering in countries devastated by the war. In addition to funds, I ask the Congress to authorize the detail of American civilian and military personnel to Greece and Turkey at the request of those countries to assist in the tasks of reconstruction, and for the purpose of supervising the use of such financial and material assistance as may be furnished. I recommend that authority also be provided for the instruction and training of selected Greek and Turkish personnel.

Finally I ask that the Congress provide authority which will permit the speediest and most effective use in terms of needed commodities, supplies and equipment as such funds as may be authorized. lf further funds, or further authority should be needed for the purposes indicated in this message, I shall not hesitate to bring this situation before the Congress. On this subject, the executive and legislative branches of the government must work together We must keep that hope alive. The free people of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedom. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world, and we shall surely endanger the welfare of this nation. Great responsibi1ities have been placed upon us by the swift movement of events, I am confident that the Congress will face these responsibilities squarely.

演讲者简介：

　　1945年的4月12日下午，富兰克林·罗斯福总统去逝了。当晚7：09，副总统喻利·杜鲁门宣誓就职，成为第三十三位美国总统。1946年12月31日，杜鲁门总统宣告二战敌对状态的结束。1947年初，英国声明不能在3月31日之后支持希腊。许多外交家担心苏联会因此将势力扩张到中东地区。针对这一问题，杜鲁门总统要求国会向希腊和土耳其提供4亿美元的资金，国会同意了援助款顶。这一通常被称为“杜鲁门主义”的援助政策，是美国对苏联称雄世界的野心的挑战。

尊敬的总统先生、议长先生、各位美国国会议员：

当今世界严峻的形势，迫使我必须出席国会的例会我们的外交政策和国家安全都已面临考验。此次我呈给各位以兹考虑和决定的当前形势的一方面涉及到希腊和土耳其。

美国最近收到希腊政府要求财政和经济援助的紧急请求。现仍在希腊的美国经济代表团的报告，以及美国驻希腊大使的报告，同样证明了希腊请求援助的迫切性，否则希腊将不再以自由国家的身份存在。我相信美国人民和国会绝不会对他们的请求置若罔闻。

希腊不是一个富裕的国家。由于自然资源匮乏，迫使希腊人民辛勤劳动方能勉强度日。1940年以来，这个勤勉刻苦、热爱和平的国家饱受四年外敌入侵之苦及内乱纷起之灾。当解放大军进入希腊后，发现溃退的德军实际上已经毁坏了所有的铁路、公路、港口设施、通讯和商船。一千多个村庄被烧毁，85％的儿童染有结核病，禽畜几近灭绝，通货膨胀极端严重。一个好战的少数党因此利用传统的习俗和人民的不幸，制造政治动乱，因而直到现在，希腊的经济仍无法复苏，连进口生活必需品的资金都没有。这种情况下，希腊人民对重建家园一筹莫展。希腊的存亡系于一发，无论如何都要寻求财政和经济援助，以继续购买食品、衣物、燃料和种子。这些东西在人民生活中必不可少，而且必须要从外国进口。只有在别国的帮助下得到这些必需品，希腊才能重整社会秩序和安全，才能复苏经济，恢复政治。

希腊政府还请求得到有经验的美国行政管理人员、经济学家和技术人员的援助，以保证得到的财政和其它援助在建立稳定的、独立的经济体系，改进公共管理时得到有效的利用。

　　……这些人在许多地方无视政府的权威，尤其是在北部边境上。一个由联合国安理会委任的考察团目前正在调查希腊北部的骚乱情况，并证实了希腊与阿尔巴尼亚、保加利亚和南斯拉夫之间的边疆受到侵犯。希腊政府对此无能为力，其军队人数不多且装备落后。要在希腊领土范围内重树政府的威信，军队必须得到给养和装
备；要想成为一个自立、自尊的民主国家，希腊必须有一个健全的体制。

合众国应该提供这样的援助。我们已经给矛希腊一些救济和经济援助，但这远远不够。除了美国以外，希腊无人可求；除了美国以外，更没有人愿意及能够向希腊的民主政府提供必要的支持。我们必须采取坚决果断的行动。

鉴于此，我恳请国会批准在1948年6月30日前向希腊及土耳其提供4亿美金的援助。我亦考虑到在最近向国会申请的帮助战乱国家预防饥荒的3.5亿美元救济金中，希腊所占的最大份额。除资金外，我还请求国会批准应希腊和土耳其的请求向其派遣军事及非军事人员的细节；以协助两国的重建工作，并监督有关的经济及物资援助的使用情况。我还建议对两国选派的人员提供指导和培训。

最后，我请求国会在批准资金的同时，授权我们可在相关的物资、给养和装备上得到最快，最有效的保证。今后如需更多的资金或授权，我将毫不犹豫地面呈国会。在此事上，政府的行政与立法机构必须同心协力。我们必须达到目的。全世界自由的人民期待着我们捍卫他们的自由。如果我们的领导地位动摇了，不仅会危害世界的和平，而且一定会危害国家的安定。我们身负重任，我相信国会将会坚定地面对这些重任。