Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-04-23
Foreign Relief Debate
Opens in House With !
Blank Check Charge
BY The Associated Press

~ The Associated Press
Under attack as q blank
check" the administrations
$3.50, 100000 foreign relief bill hit
the House floor today less than
"a hours after the Senate sealed
its approval on an historic $40o,
100000 program to help Greece
and Turkey curb communism. |
Debate on the relief bill first and
the sharply pared Interior Depart
ment appropriation next probably
will delay House action on the
Greek Turkish aid program until
some time next week.
The Senate passed that measure
late yesterday by the top-heavy vote
of Ct to % after weeks of debate
in which opponents assailed 1t as
step toward war with Russia and
its supporters claimed 1t will help
preserve peace.
Final Flareup in Senate.
Although the House sidetrackedl
the question temporarily to concen-
trate on foreign relief, there was
abundant evidence that the same
issues may determine the legisla-
tors final decision on what the
United States will do in the way of
sending food abroad.
A final fareup marked the last
hours of the Senate's torrid debate
on the Greek Turkish issue Of
American aid to "free peoples" I'll
was touched eff by Senator john
son, Democrat, of Colorado, author
of several unsuccessful amendments
to modify the oil, with the charge
that Congress is underwriting al
military alliance" with Turkey that
invites Russian retaliation.
Obviously irked, Chairman Van
denberg of the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee recalled that
Senator johnson also had con-
tended repeatedly" that the pro-
gram can lead only to war with the
Soviet Union.
'Inf1ammable" Statement.
Terming that statement IAN in
vitation to the precise disaster that
this bill seeks to prevent" Senator
Vandenberg continued:
THAT is an inflammable state
ment and it is grave error. I |
deny there is any such purpose in |
the heart of any Senator who to-
day supports the President Of the
United States"
AS outlined by President Truman
in dramatic personal appearance
before the lawmakers March u to
outline a momentous new Ameri-
can foreign policy, the measure per-
mits a $400,000,000 expenditure be-
fore July I, 1913, in gifts, loans or
other advances to Greece and Tur-
key.
Mr.. Truman told Congress, with
out referring to Russia, that the aid
program is needed to help the two
countries maintain their national
integrity"
In addition to the direct financial
assistance, this country also plans to
send military missions of about so
men each from the Army and Navy
to instruct the Turks and Greeks in
the use of American equipment.
Turkey is due for $100,000,000 of
the total, all of it for undermining |
and maintaing her army, long at
full strength because of Russian de-
mands for a voice in the Darda-
nelles.
OF the $500. 000,0 900 earmarked for |
Greece, half will go into that Ma
TONS army which now is fighting
guerrilla forces the State Depart
ment says are Communicated. The
remainder would be used for relief
and rehabilitation work.
Greece Is due to get about $780,
100000 of the $3.50, 900, 900 involved
in the foreign relief bill pending in
the House.
But that measure as written by
the House Foreign Affairs Commit
tee at State Department urging
does not mention any country by
name. The department said it
wants the program to be flexible"
Bipartisan Campaign.
However, bipartisan drive to
single out specific nations gathered
momentum. 1t developed after
Representative Herter, Republican,
of Massachusetts pasted the blank
check" label on the bill and noted
in predicate speech yesterday
that the State Department had in
cluded Poland, Hungary and China
AS well as Greece, Italy and Aus
tria-among potential recipient
countries.
In response to queries from Repre-
sentative Rankin, Democrat, of
Mississippi Mr.. Herter listed both
Poland and Hungary as under the
domination of Communist regimes"
and China as partly So" Mr.. Ran
kin served notice that he wouldn't
vote "a single dime" for countries
so controlled.
Mr.. Herter, close friend of for
mer President Herbert Hoover, said
an amendment definitely would be
offered to name the countries in the
bill itself. This presumably would
lead to direct vote on sending
LOST.