Evening star., 1947-03-30
Greek Aid Is Big Issue
las New Liberal Group
Drafts lis Platform

The nature of American aid to
Greece emerged as the key issue
before the Americans for Demo-
cratic Action as the Nations new
est liberal group prepared today to
adopt domestic and foreign plat
form.
Wilson w. Wyatt, former Federal
Housing Administrator. yesterday
was named national chairman
when the organization chose its
first complete slate Of permanent
officers.
Leon Henderson, first admins
Arator of the once Of Price Ad-
ministration, was designated chair
man of the executive committee
He and Mr.. Wyatt had been tenn
porary co-chairmen since the ADA
organizing committee met January
5, a week after the Henry Wallace
sponsored Progressive Citizens OF
America was set up.
Today's session will conclude q
two-day conference at the Hotel
washington in which $50 delegates
from throughout the country have
set up an organizat ton Of slightly
left Of center" liberals to compete
with Pea for support of the Ma
tons 'progressives."
Greece Is Main Topic.
President Truman's proposal for
aid to Greece was the main topic
of conversation yesterday both on
the convention floor and in the hotel
corridors, where labor and civic
leaders joined many former officials
of the Roosevelt administration In
discussion.
Less frequently mentioned was the
Turkish relief proposal and Amer
ican policies in China and Korea,
while domestic issues such as cur
rent labor legislation came in for
some debate.
Paul A. Porter, head Of President
Truman's economic mission to
Greece, touched OIL the foreign pol
icy discussion with an expression
of hope that ADA would indorse i'm
mediate assistance and relief to the
Greek people.
He admitted he shared in part
some Of the "misgivings" which have
been expressed about the nature OF
the administration proposal, but
| warned:
IF we, as liberals, undertake to
confuse this policy by series Of
conditions and discussions of a polit-
ical character, time is going to be
lost and we will have nothing or
very little in Greece upon which to
rebuild"
Childs Points Out Urgency.
Columnist Marquis Childs, chair
man of the ADA foreign policy COM
mission which will present pro-
posed foreign platform to the dele
gates today, told the convention
yesterday afternoon he agreed with
Mr.. Porter on the urgency Of the
present world situation.
THE time is growing very, very
short" he asserted, adding that il
Soviet-American relations continued
to deteriorate Greece might become
another Spain.
From Mortimer Hays Of Norwalk
Conn.,, who served as chairman OF
the foreign policy committee of the
Union for Democratic Action, came
a warning against unilateral action
by the United States which might
undermine the United Nations.
Mrs. Franklin D. RooseValt, who
attended the entire days proceed
ings with her son, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, jr., alsos insisted upon
Americas responsibility to uphold
the machinery Of the United
Nations.
when we wrote the Charter, We
trecognized that three great powers
had to be in agreement" she told
the delegates.
Criticizes Bullitt Statement.
Mrs. Roosevelt criticized former
Ambassador Bullitt for his recent
statement the Russians would us<
the atom bomb against the United
States If they had the secret.
"By inference, we have the bomt
50 we should use 1t" was Mrs. Roose-
velt's Interpretation Of the Bulltt
statement.
Thomas r. Amlie, former Repre-.
sentative from Wisconsin, warned
against a policy that would result
in Americas underwriting world re.
action"
II feel today that Henry Wallace
| is facing the issue and the question
is, are we facing 1t today in this
convention?" he declared.
The convention yesterday adopted
a aoy, cfif,,fioy, which included a ser.