Evening star., 1947-11-21
Rocky Road Indicated
For Marshall Plan Bill.
As Stopgap Aid Waits
By ChoImers M. Roberts

Congress was in adjournment
today, awaiting the beginning of
debate on the $597 100000 stop
gap foreign aid bill in the Sen
ate on Monday and in the House
possibly later next week.
The House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee today worked over the Senate
version of the stop-gap aid bill as
we'll as the administration daft
Members said it probably will take
several more meetings to produce
the final bill
Chairman Eaton said the author
ization for S597.OOOOOO has not yet
been approved, but he fully expects
that it will be.
He said he expects the committee
to add an amendment permitting
the Reconstruction Finance Corpor-
alton to advance funds for the aid
pragram if they are not approved at
once by Congress.
Sees 100 Million Advance.
Mr.. Eaton said that while no exact
figure has been advanced in the
committee, he thought 100000, 900
would probably be the sum the RFC
would be permitted to advance.
Meanwhile, an indication of the
long road ahead for the four-year
Marshall plan aid program came
from Chairman Wolcott of the
House Banking Committee. He said
in New York speech last night that
the lob can be done under proper
management with one-third of the
amount requested by the Paris Con-
ference and by the administration ,
The Paris Conference of the 16
nations which would be aided asked
nearly $20,000000 900, and Secretary
of State Marshall has described the
cost of the four-year program as
between s16,O00,OO and $40
000,000,000
Wolcott Backs New Agency.
Representative Wolcott told the
Economic Club of New York that
I'VE must exert every effort to as
sure that all possible factors Of for
eign rehabilitation and Stabilization
are fully utilized to save every dollar
Of American money possible
He recommended a new independ-
ent agency to administer the long
range plan, probably corporation
with authority to expand its capital
by issuance of notes bonds and de-
bentures. If the program is success
full and foreign currencies are there
by stabilized, he said he thought
the United States may well recap
ture a large amount of its invest
ment by the eventual conversion Of
foreign currencies into dollars.
Mr.. Wolcott said that If the in
terim program is successful. he was
fairly certain Congress will not
hesitate" to increase the capital of
the Export Import Bank by "rea-
sonably large amounts" to make
available "all necessary funds for
the production of producer and
heavy consumer goods
House Committee Meets.
Chairman Vandenberg of the SEN
ate Foreign Relations Committee
has announced that the Senate will
concentrate on the stopgap bill next
week, meeting on Thanksgiving Day
9 If the measure has not been passed
bysthat time. Hence, final Senate
action may come before the House
measure even reaches the floor of
the lower chamber.
This bill merely authorizes the
granting of aid to France, Italy and
Austria. A separate act is neces-
sary to vote the $597, 100000.
The Senate Appropriations Com
mittee will meet on Monday to can
vass the domestic food situation and
its relation to the administration
plan for food shipments abroad, both
during the stopgap period between
now and next March 81 and during
the long-range period following.
Chairman Bridges made it clear
earlier this week that the money will
not be voted without considerable
debate.
The House Appropriations Com
mittee has not yet been called to
meet by its chairman, Representa-
tive Taber. Republican, of New York.
The House yesterday heard pleas
favoring aid to Europe from Repre-
sentatives Mundt, Republican, of
South Dakota, and Kennedy, Dem
&c