Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-15
Foreign Aid
Continued From First Page.)

Committee; House Speaker Martin,
Chairman Eaton of the House For
eign Affairs Committee; House
Majority Leader Halleck, House
Minority Leader Rayburn and Rep
resentative Bloom Of New York,
ranking. minority member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Senator Taft of Ohio, originally
not included on the list invited to
the conference, revealed yesterday
that he had been added later but
was unable to be present because of
a meeting during the morning of the
Joint Economic Committee which
was already scheduled.
From the White House, the leaders
went back to the Capitol where
plans were laid to speed final action
on a measure approving $597 ,000, 900
OF emergency aid for France, Italy,
Austria and China.
Senator Vandenberg earlier had
told reporters that the emergency
bill-representing a compromise be-
tween House and Senate versions of
the winter relief program-might be
cleared by both houses during the
day and sent to Mr.. Truman.
The Senate began debate on the
bill as soon as todays session started
In the House action on the Wolcott
economic bill was given priority.
Other Reductions Sought.
Even after this measure is out
of the way, new efforts were in
prospect to trim the money outlay
by means of the all-important ap-
preparation legislation. There were
reports that cut ranging between
$50, 000, 900 and $1O0, 900 900, or more,
would be recommended to an appro-
priations subcommittee.
A preliminary agreement by the
subcommittee was said to be this:
l. Removal of China from the bill.
2. cut of $4,000, 600 to $50 ,O0O, 900
in aid for France, Austria and Italy.
The big question remaining:
Should another $50, 0O0,0 900 or so
be Topped off because China is not
included?
The subcommittee, which has not
disclosed any results Of its closed
door deliberations, was to continue
its work today. Its decisions must
go before the full committee later,
but Chairman Taber is in charge of
both groups and committee approval
Is, therefore, likely.
Faces Much Controversy.
This work is on the actual appro-
priation bill to finance the relief.
The bill authorizing the program is
the one which Is to go before both
the House and Senate today.
On top Of this, MIR. Truman
seemed likely to learn at first hand
from Republican and Democratic
chieftains that the long-range
Marshall plan is in for considerable
controversy before it can be
brought to final decision.
The President was represented
as sticking firmly to his resolve
to ask the lawmakers to approve in
advance a four-year program. Con-
gress would, however, be left to
decide yearly on the amount of
money 1t thinks should be made
available to bolster the Western
European countries which thus far
have remained outside the Com
munist orbit.
Taft Seeks Limitation.
Senator Taft has said he is op-
posed to authorizing more than a
one-year program. His idea is that
Congress should review the whole
proposal in principle each year in
stead of merely deciding how much
money it will pay.
Also, Senator Taft said the more
he learns about the Marshall plan,
the more he thinks expenditures
under it ought to be limited to
around $4,000, 900 900 in its first year
of operation.
This compares with the $6,000,-
100000 which Secretary of State
Marshall has said will be necessary
in the year beginning July /. Be-
fore that, Gen. Marshall has said
that $500 000,O should be made
available between March 81, when
the stopgap program ends. and
July l.
Each of these figures since has
been scaled down. There was no
immediate breakdown, but the new
four-year total of Sic, $500, 900 900 was
mentioned yaviuo fe1v, tHx, $Nx. al