Evening star., 1947-12-19
Congress Is T old
Of Importance in
Promoting Peace
Partial Tert OF Presidents MESSAGE
on Page A.
By Joseph A. Fox

President Truman today asked
Congress for s6,80O,00O,OOO to
launch the Marshall plan by
April l and a total commit
ment of $17,0O0,O0O, $1,000 to carry
through to June 80, 1852, and
get the 27O,OOO,OOO people of
Western Europe on their feet.
Outlining the vast economic res
toration program for 16 nations and
Western Germany against a back
ground of growing tension with
Russia, the President declared this
country faces grave and signifl-
cant decision" in the promotion of
peace by this effort, and that its
course will determine in large part
whether the free nations OF the
world can look forward with hope
to peaceful and prosperous future
as independent states or whether
they must live in poverty and in fear
of selfish totalitarian aggression.
If Europe falls under totalitarian
control, the President warned, sit
might we'll compel us to modify our
own economic system and to forgo
for the sake Of our own security, the
enjoyment of many of our freedoms
and privileges"
Communist Opposition Cited.
Bluntly he asserted that I'VE must
not be blind to the fact that the
Communists have announced deter
mined opposition to any effort to
help Europe get back on its feet"
The President recommended that
the projected aid be made through
botn grants and loans, depending
primarily upon the capacity of each
country to make repayments, and
the effect Of additional international
debt upon the accomplishment of
genuine recovery" He did not sug-
gest any breakdown as between out
right gifts and loans but stressed
that the entire program lis well
within our capacity to undertake"
Mr.. Truman said that aid for
China would be taken up later.
New Organization Proposed.
To administer the program, Presi-
dent Truman proposed creation of
an Economic Cooperation Admins
tration, headed by a $4,000 yearly
administrator, who would, however,
be subject to the Secretary of State
on foreign policy matters. A spe-
cial United States representative"
who would be, in effect. rowing
ambassador, to exercise general CO.
ordinating powers, also would be-
provided. This post would pay $25,-I
900. Along with the message, the
President sent Congress the draft
of legislation to set up this admin
istrative machinery and 241-page
analysis prepared by several Gov
ernment agencies.
The $6,s00,000,000 appropriation
sought at the outset by the President
would be designed to finance the
program for IS months. After that,
appropriations would be made an
nually, and while Mr.. Truman ex-
planned that an estimate of prospec-
tive needs is difficult, the best"
figure is s10,200 100000 for the last
three years.
UnpredictabIe Factors in Cost.
"Obviously,' he explained, price
changes, weather and crop condi-
tions and other unpredictable fac
tors will influence the overall cost
of our aid Nevertheless. the in
herent nature of this enterprise and
the iong-range planning necessary
to put it into effect on both sides
of the Atlantic require that this
Government indicate its plans for
the duration and the general mag
nitude of the program without COM
mitting itself to specific amounts in
future years"
Depending chiefly on whether
prices go up or down. Government
experts estimate that the actual cost
to the country might dip as low as
? SSH 100000 or climb as high as
S17,758, 900, 900. not including 1922
600, 900 for Western Germany which
the administration is asking sepa-
rately for the first Is months.
Help from the International
Bank. private financing, other West