Evening star., 1947-06-22
AustriiaReceives
.S20,000,O00Aid
From u. ). Army
Vienna to Get Dollars
As Reds Press for
Another Coup
FIVE-YEAR Capitalist Socialist
Truce Proposed in Germany. AS
BY The Assoeioted Press

VIENNA, Austria, June 21.-
Austria, under pressure by Com
munists to revise her govern
ment along the lines of the Hun
garian coup, was given an eco
nomic boost by the United States
Army today which announced
it's $4,000 occupation troops
would in effect become tourists
so far as spending power is con-
cerned.
A new plan, the Army announced,
calls for the Army to purchase Aus
trian schillings from the Austrian
government with dollars to cover
occupation costs beginning July /.
The program is expected to give
Austria about $20,0O0,000 a year in
dollar currency for foreign exchange.
Drain on Austrian Economy.
Heretofore the Austrian govern
ment has been paying out about Is
per cent of its annual budget to pay
the occupation costs of four armies,
American, Russian, British and
French. The United States Army
has been receiving less than one
fourth of this amount which has
been described as a heavy drain on
the Austrian economy.
A United States Army spokesman
said the plan was terrific shot in
the arm for Austrian economy and
morale" and that Chancellor Leo
pold Figl was "f1abbergasted" when
he heard about it.
Chancellor Figl, who was informed
of the plan this afternoon by the
American commander, 1t. Gen.
Godfrey Keyes, said, This is just
another gesture on the part of the
Americans as they do all they can
to help us rebuild Austria"
Occupation Armies May Stay.
Gen.. Keyes said the project was
"in pursuance of the announced
policy of the United States Gov
|ernment of treating Austria as a lib
Grated nation"
GA dispatch from Sofia, Bull
garia, indicated that the occupa-
ton armies may remain in
Southeastern Europe for many
months. The dispatch said bill
for ratification of the Bulgarian
peace treaty was introduced in
Parliament and the Communist
dominated parliament then ad-
journed without action until Sep
tember. The peace treaty calls
for evacuation of Soviet occupa-
ton troops within 80 days after
ratifcationD
The Austrian government, by bear
ing the costs of occupation, has been
paying for all properties requisi-
toned by the occupying forces and
for the payment of all local help.
Property to Be Returned
Brig. Gen. Jesse Balmer, deputy
American high commissioner for
Austria, said the plan would involve
a huge program of returning re-
Questioned properties to the Aus
trians since occupation costs will
now come from appropriated funds,
the expenditure of which is limited
by law.
The army will turn back to Aus
trians a large number of hotels and
recreation centers because appro-
priated money cannot be used for
recreational facilities, he added.
American troops will be concen-
trated into limited and more eco
nomical quarters, he continued.
Army enlisted. men, whose families
are not authorized to live in quarters
paid for from appropriated funds,
probably will be given an opportunity
to go home or of making private
deals with Austrian landlords.
Americans to Suffer.
The plan will probably work finan-
cial hardship on every American
family in Austria, he said, since it
will amount to an increase in the
cost of living for them.
Personnel working in commissaries
and like establishments will no
longer be paid by the Austrian gov
ernment, and their wages will have
to be added to the cost of merchan-
disc, adding to the cost of living.
Gen. Balmer said letters were sent
by messenger to each of the other
occupying powers informing them
nf the American stem