Evening star., 1942-07-14
Mekary Opens Fire
On S2S,660, 500Fund
For Latin Co-ordinator
Mcclellan Declares Duties
Of Nelson Rockefeller
Highly Confidential
z, the Associated Press.

FI the Associated Press.
A proposed appropriation Of s26,-
560.500 for the Co-ordlnator OF
Inter American Affairs drew the
fire of Minority Leader McNary in
the Senate today on the ground that
the omnibus defense bill in which it
is included failed to show adequately
for what purposes the money was to
be spent,
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat, of
Tennessee, in charge of the bill
defended the item by saying the
duties of the co-ordinator, Nelson
Rockefeller, were of a highly con-
fldential nature" and hence the
measure and committee hearings on
1t were necessarily general as to
purposes,
S23,000,0 600 for propaganda.
The item includes over S23 900 ,00C
for special propaganda projects in
Latin America in the field of radio
motion pictures, press, science and
education. basic economy, COM
nnerce and finance; S500000 fol-
emergencies of confidential char
acter." and an unspecified amount
for entertainment of officials and
others of other American republics.
Demanding to know the nature
of all these activities, Senator Nc
Nary noted the committee hear
ings mostly we're off the record
when Mr.. Rockefeller testified ano
said it was absurd to say that dis
closure of why motion pictures were
needed in South America would give
aid and comfort to Hitler.
The Germans and Japs have got
a very firm hold down there" Sen
ator McKellar said, land its the de-
sire of this Government to incur
the most friendly relations dowr
there All these appropriations vii
aid the United States in winning
this war"
McNary asks Purpose.
What are the purposes of NOV
ing pictures; is that winning the
war" Senator McNary asked hotly
Its the best method of propa
ganda known to man and we are
availing ourselves of it," the Ten
nessean replied.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia, declared he was disturbed
by the fact that the Co-ordinator of
inter-American Affairs would be al
located more than a million dollars
more than the entire State Depart
ment, which is only spending ST.
000, ,000-of which, 1 understand, a
million and half has already been
allocated to this purpose
1T seems to me that much of the
State Department money is being
spent for this same purpose in
South America" the Virginian said.
Recommended BY Hull.
Senator McKellar replied that the
appropriat had the recommenda-
ton of Secretary of State Cordell
Hull, and inserted into the record
q letter from Mr. Hull
Senator Bailey, Democrat, OF
North Carolina asked but what is
the money going to be spent for
why we can't have more definite
statement regarding it's use?"
Senator Hayden, Democrat, OF
Arizona, also member of the COM
mittee, replied that lin general. as
Mr.. Rockefeller explained it to us,
it will be to combat the effect OF
Axis propaganda on our friends in
South and Central America.
AT present" Senator Hayden
said, "the Axis powers control the
air waves, and over the radios in
our neighbors to the south is pour
ing the Axis version of what the war
is all about. Among other things
the money is to be spent to combat
that propaganda-to tell them the
truth about the war.