we have considered how the united nations might assist in this crisis. but the situation is an urgent one, requiring immediate action, and the united nations and its related organizations are not in a position to extend help of the kind that is required.
it is important to note that the greek government has asked for our aid in utilizing effectively the financial and other assistance we may give to greece, and in improving its public administration. it is of the utmost importance that we supervise the use of any funds made available to greece in such a manner that each dollar spent will count toward making greece self-supporting, and will help to build an economy in which a healthy democracy can flourish.
no government is perfect. one of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected. the government of greece is not perfect. nevertheless it represents eighty-five per cent of the members of the greek parliament who were chosen in an election last year. foreign observers, including 692 americans, considered this election to be a fair expression of the views of the greek people.
the greek government has been operating in an atmosphere of chaos and extremism. it has made mistakes. the extension of aid by this country does not mean that the united states condones everything that the greek government has done or will do. we have condemned in the past, and we condemn now, extremist measures of the right or the left. we have in the past advised tolerance, and we advise tolerance now.
greek's neighbor, turkey, also deserves our attention. the future of turkey, as an independent and economically sound state, is clearly no less important to the freedo