Evening star., 1947-12-23
The Principle Counts Most

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other influential legislators argue strongly
for acting only on a one-year- r-at-a-time
basis, there is good reason why Congress
should firmly commit itself to the prin-
ciple of long-term aid for European re-
covery Psychologically and otherwise,
nothing could be more important than that
the United States make clear to the par
ticipating nations, to Russia and to the
world at large that it is not going to blow
hot and cold over the projected enterprise,
but that it proposes to see it through to
successful finish. Mr.. Taft's approach, If
adopted, would create a basic doubt where
there needs to be as much certainty as
possible.
Under the Presidents recommendation
Congress, in it's next session, would
authorize a four-year total of $17,000,0O0
900 for the European Recovery Program.
But it would actually appropriate only
Sc, 300 900 900 for the first fifteen months.
AS for the remaining $4,000, 100000, the
funds would be voted as needed on a
year-to-year basis. In other words, since
authorization and appropriation are differ
ent things, Congress would be free to
decide annually on whatever amount 1t
deemed necessary for the effective con-
tinuation of the enterprise. Under the
Presidents proposal, in short, it would be
on record as favoring long-range action
up to magnitude of $4,000, 100000, but it
would not be definitely committed to make
that much money available. On the other
hand, if it followed Senator Taft's advice,
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with Europe's problem on strictly piece
meal basis, with no assurance against
too-little too-late operation.
But though the Taft view thus has little
to commend it, though it would tend to
make the participating nations uncertain
and thereby complicate their long-term
economic planning, some doubts can be
raised against the Presidents request for
a specific four-year total Of authorized
appropriations. To begin with, as Senator
Vandenberg has pointed out, no Congress
has the power to commit a succeeding
Congress to vote predetermined amount
of money within predetermined period OF
time. It is fact moreover, that there Is
no way of establishing, long in advance,
precisely how much American help may be
needed in 1850 or 1851 to put Europe back
solidly on it's feet. In the circumstances,
assuming that the enabling legislation un-
equivocally embodies the principle of large
scale and long-range aid to promote the
continents recovery, it may be questioned
whether the inclusion of fixed overall
sum is really imperative.
After all. it is the commitment to the
principle that matters most. If Congress
adopts the European Recovery Program
and afirms at the same time that the
United States is resolved to make that
program succeed between now and 1852.
the legislation will be powerful instru-
ment for the free worlds security and
peace even If it does not specify partic
ular total of dollar expenditures The
important thing. in sum, is to emphasize
to our friends abroad-and to our potential
enemies as well-that we are determined
to keep western civilization from falling
apart, regardless of the COST We cannot
do less without great danger to ourselves.