Evening star., 1947-05-09
By ]. A. O,Leorx

The House took its leaders by
surprise today when it refused
twice to prohibit the sending of
combat troops to Greece and
Turkey.
The State Department has as
sured Congress there is no intention
of sending combat soldiers to either
country under the $400, 100000 aid
program to check Communism in
the Mediterranean area. n
In an effort to expedite passage
Of the bill, however, Representa-
tives Eaton, Republican, of New
Jersey, and Bloom, Democrat, of
New York, chairman and ranking
minority member, respectively. of
the Foreign Affairs Committee,
joined in indorsing such ban.
Amendment Offered by Judd.
But the House turned it down,
first on a standing vote of SO to
So, and then on teller count, 122
to 10. The House. in effect, was
refusing to tie the hands of the
administration.
The amendment had been Of
fered by Representative Judd, Re
publican. of Minnesota to end a
controversy that had developed over
whether the House should put any
limit on the number Of military ad-
visors to be sent to supervise the
delivery of military equipment and
supplies to the Greek and Turkish
Armies.
Mr.. Judd previously had moved
for limit of 200 officers on the
military mission, while Representa-
tive Mundt. Republican, of South
Dakota had advocated 100 limit.
Believing 1t would be better to
assure the members that no armies
would be sent, both Mr.. Judd and
Mr.. Mundt Joined in offering the
substitute which stated that the
military mission would not include
armed organized military units to
serve as -occupational or combat
troops
Mr.. Eaton said he was glad to have
1t offered, and from the Democratic
side, Mr.. Bloom added, 81 have no
objection"
Bill Faces More Hurdles.
just before the vote was taken,
however, Representative Cox, Demo-
crat, of Georgia took the floor to
call the bar an "appeasement of the
forces we want to restrain" He said
he was unable to embrace 1t because
'if the pending resolution is not
military IN character then it is a
cheat ant swindle. 1t is military,
and no restraint should be. laid on
those who will administer it."
When Mi. Cox took his seat the
House proceeded to beat the restric-.
ton.
Although there are several major
hurdles still facing the bill in the
form Of amendments to refer the
issue of Communist expansion to the
. United Nations and to reduce the
amount of money, leaders are hope
ful of passing the bill without
crippling amendments late today or
tomorrow.
A plea by Representative Morrow,
Republican, of New Hampshire for a
firm American stand against Rus
sian expansion touched off lively
debate shortly after the House met
today.
Urges Stand at Once.
ASSprfif1o that fho
"deadlocked every conference" Mr..
Morrow inquired: "I'd like to know
how much longer we're going to be
insulted by those in charge of the
Soviet Union before taking a stand"
He said he wants 1t known he is
vigorously supporting the bill. not
only on political and strategic
grounds. but particularly because of
its military aspects. Mr. Morrow
said appeasement was tried in the
l930s without preventing war.
Observing that the pending
amendment seeks to limit the
American mission to 200 military
personnel, ; Representative Rankin,
Democrat, of Mississippi observed:
Russia mas more spies than that
In this country now
Representative Smith, Republican,
OF Wisconsin, author of amendments
likely to prove the real tests of
strength, said he agreed with MIR.
Morrow in his views about appease-
ment, but suggested would it not
be more fortnight to ask for mobil-
ization now?"
MIR. Morrow replied that II his COL
league was willing to do that he