Evening star., 1947-10-16
Special Session
Still Possible,
Truman Says
No Decision Made;
Search for Funds to
Aid Europe Continues
BY the Asseeiotsd Press

| BY the Assoeiotsd Press
President Truman said today
there still is a possibility he will
call a special session of Congress
to deal with Europe's financial
plight.
The President told his news con-
ference no decision has been made
and that the administration is con-
tinuing its search for funds for STOP
gap aid to Western Europe.
| The questions to Mr.. Truman were
prompted by published reports that
officials see fair prospects that emer-
gency help for Europe can be sup
piled without special session.
Mr.. Truman said administration
financial officials have had consid-
cradle success in their efforts to de-
velop stopgap aid.
He cited yesterdays authorization
for the Army to buy $50,000,00O of
French francs.
Banks Efforts Cited.
This transaction will put needed
dollars in the hands of the French.
The Army will use the francs to
pay for services the French have
given American troops.
Mr. Truman also cited efforts by
the Export-Import Bank to trans
fer construction loans for France
to a fund which can be used in food
and fuel purchases.
The financial agencies are still
making other efforts 10 locate funds
he said.
rs there still a possibility of an
extra session call?" a reporter in.
quired.
The President said, of course.
On Capitol Hill, Senator Hatch,
Democrat. of New Mexico said
earlier Europe's need is critical and
Congress should be called into spe-
cial session.
After a conference of about q
score of Senators and Representa-
tives with State Department oficials,
Senator Hatch said a detailed recital
of conditions by Lewis Douglas.
American Ambassador to Great
Britain, and Undersecretary of State
Lovett had convinced him even more
of the necessity for speedy action by
Congress. -,
Cant Afford to Delay"
Similar sentiments were expressed
by VIII L. Clayton as he stepped
out as Undersecretary OF State for
Economic Affairs.
I'VE cannot afford to delay If We
are going to keep the FIRE Of com,
munism from spreading over Eu-
rope" Senator Hatch declared.
I'VE have made progress in that
direction, especially in Italy. but we
must back up our good will with
something more substantial"
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois told reporter the State De-
partment made it known at yester-
days conference that it will be
ready with the emergency proposals
by November 10, but Senator Hatch
said there was no discussion of 4
special session of Congress.
Il think the State Department
people properly are leaving up to
Congress the speed with which 1t
will act" he said.
Details on Need Given.
Mr.. Douglas and Mr.. Lovett ex-
planned in detail to the members OF
Congress, summoned for an informal
and unannounced conference, the
needs of each European country.
They told us just where the
money would be spent, if an emer-
gency fund is approved" Senator
Hatch said. Il have no doubt they
will lay the, same and additional in
formation before the Foreign Rela-
tions Committees when they meet
November TO-"
There was some informal discus
sion among the members of Con-
gress about the possibility of COM
bining action on the emergency fund
and the longer-range Marshall plan.
Senator Hatch said. He added there
was no decision on this.
Senators who attended the con-
ference, besides Senators Hatch and
Lucas, included Minority Leader
Barkley and Senators Connally.
Democrat, of Texas; Ferguson, Re-
publican, of Michigan and Hicken-
iooper, Republican, of Iowa. All are
members of the Foreign Relations or
Appropriations Committees.
In his farewell news conference,
Undersecretary Clayton said failure
to bolster the war-devastated coun-
tries would involve a grave danger
of economic and social disintegra-
(See FOREIGN AID, Page A-4J