WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 1957 (UP) - President Eisenhower warned the people of the Middle East today to stand clear of the "menace of international communism" lest it "smash all their hard-won accomplishments overnight." Eisenhower reiterated in a special shortwave broadcast beamed overseas that his Mideast resolution, now pending in Congress, is designed "to help bring stability" to the troubled areas.
"We must face the fact that while we are trying to help build a world of freedom and justice among sovereign people," the President said, "the masters of international communism are working constantly to tear down this kind of world."
The President's speech marked the 15th anniversary of the "Voice of America."
His warning against communism in the Middle East was couched in this language:
"I believe that the well-being of the people of the Middle East requires the nations of that region to build up and strengthen their economies and institutions.
"My proposals fit right in with this purpose, for they suggest two things: first, in order that this constructive work may go on within these countries, they must be free of the menace of international communism, which could smash all their hard-won accomplishments overnight.
"And so we give these countries the assurance that if such a danger develops, and if the United Nations machinery cannot deal with the danger, and a threatened country asks for our help, it can count on our help."
The President warned that the avowed program of communism is to destroy not only the governments and traditions, but the religions of the Christian, Buddhist, Islamic and Judaic worlds.
"The Communist rulers," he went on, "then propose to substitute a whole new system of thought and control dictated from Communist Party headquarters."
Eisenhower pointed out that one small country after another had been swallowed up by communism and their economies turned in to "mere feeders for that of Russia."
