Evening star., 1947-07-11
Arms on Way
ToAid dGreece,
.Grii5;wo|d Says.
SIS, ,oo0, 900 Supplies
Moving to American
Ports for Shipment

approximately S5o o,UUu,uUu WOTIIl
Of military supplies to equip the
Greek Army and navy already
are on their way to American
ports for shipment, Dwight Girls
void, administrator of the Amer
lean Aid Mission to Greece, dis
closed today.
Mr.. Griswold, who is scheduled to
leave for Greece Sunday. told news
conference at the same time that
any reduction in the Greek aid pro-
gram would be interpreted abroad as
sign that American foreign policy
was "softening."
Mr.. Griswold said the equipment
now moving to ports for shipment
Is largely from United States Army
and Navy surplus. It includes light
mountain pack artillery, mules, food
for troops, ammunition and some
trucks and jeeps.
Military Aid Half Of Program.
Mr.. Griswold's statement came at
q moment when the Greek govern
ment reported that 1000 guerrillas
were being beaten back toward the
Albanian frontier in = front-line
battle.
. Shipments of military supplies,
scheduled to comprise half the
$500, ,000,0 aid program, probably
will continue into the fall, Mr..
Griswold said.
Describing the efforts to main
tain security as an essential part
of economic recovery, Mr.. Griswold
said that "it would be hard to build
a bridge and have it blown up right
away"
1--WE believe. the reconstruction
program will help break up the
guerrilla bands" he added.
Admits Plans Are Tentative.
Mr.. Griswold told reporters he
could well understand the attitude
of members of the House Appropria-
lions Committee who have been
baking at providing the funds for
the $500 ,0o0, 900 air program.
The former Nebraska Governor
advitted the American plans were
somewhat tentative" and said he
could appreciate the difficulty OF
legislating In a situation for which
there was no precedent.
But q reduction of this Greek
program would be accepted by
people all over the world as soft
ening of our foreign policy" Mr..
Griswold added.
Giving reporters their first oflcial
estimate of the way In which ap-
proximately s150,000, 900 for non
military aid would be spent, Mr..
Griswold said the United States now
contemplates spending S75, ,0oo, 600 for
essential civilian goods during the
next year, and $48 900 900 for recon-
struction in Greece.
Agricultural rehabilitation would
absorb $4,000, 900. Mr. Griswold
said, with the remainder going for
a public health program to control
tuberculosis and malaria, and a pro-
grarn to instruct Greek civilians In
the technology of modern govern
merit.
In disclosing that the $35, ,000, 900
Of military equipment was already
virtually on It's way to, Greece, Mr..
Griswold admitted the economic
aid program would be adversely af-
fected by current unrest there.
He added, however, that recent dis
turbances such as the mass arrests
of Communists In Athens were
Largely internal matters" about
which his economic mission could do
little.
May Buy Goods in Britain.
The military half of the program
would be used to equip the Greek
army on an "anti-bandit basis" Mr.
Griswold said. adding this applied
also to the navy. The army would
be equipped, he said. with some ar
tillery and airplanes. as well as
trucks, supplies of small arms and
food.
Mr.. Griswold thought it was pos
sible that some supplies for the
Greek Army might be purchased by
the United States in Britain, which
formerly provided equipment for the
Greek armed forces.
Selection of the personnel of the
American mission is proceeding
slowly, Mr.. Griswold indicated
About 80 persons have been selected
to administer the nonmilitary side
of the program, but these are still
being screened by the FBI. The
military side of the program will be
administered with the assistance Of
80 armed service officers and en-
listed rersonnel. Mr.. GrisWold said