Evening star., 1947-10-20
More Facts Awaited
On U. 5. Capacity 10
Rehabi|itate Europe

Government experts today
pushed toward completion stud
les to determine how much of
the food, fuel and machinery
Western Europe is seeking for
its recovery program can be sup
piled by this country.
Republicans at the Capitol gener-
ally adopted a let's-hear-more atti-
tude after looking over report by
Secretary of the Interior Krug that
American production can support a
considerable" foreign aid program
without impairing national resources.
President Truman had much the
same attitude. In making the Krug
report public Saturday night, he said
his recommendations on 'the nature
and extent" of a program to share
this country's resources with Europe
await completion of further studies.
Rough Guess" Awaited.
A key report is expected to reach
the President in the first week of
November from 19-man nonpar-
tisan Citizens Committee headed by
Secretary of Commerce Hartman.
Some committee members said
their report probably will include
only rough guess" of the ultimate
cost of American attempts to help
Europe get itself back on its feet
economically-the goal of the Mar
shall plan.
They. expect the report to say
that the United States can safely
invest between $4,000, 100000 and
$40 900, 100000 in the aid program
over a course Of years. Secretary
Krug said his group worked on the
basis of a $4,000, 100000 program
over five years.
Variable Factors Noted.
But members of the Hartman
committee noted that success or
failure of European harvests, a
possible increase in foreign coal pro-
duction, f1uctuation In prices and
many other prices will influence
the need for aid so that 1t might be
unwise for Congress to set up any
overall figure for a flve-year pro-
gram.
These considerations may bring
recommendation that Congress
make single years appropriation
for economic aid to Europe without
trying to set final cost figure for
the Marshall plan. Some Republican
leaders already have made it clear
they want the aid program placed
on year-to-year basis.
The Hartman committee report
will attempt to relate Europe's needs
directly to what this country can
afford to supply. The Krug report
did not attempt this in its analysis
OF American resources.
Pepper Stresses Sacrifices.
Mr.. Krug said the proposed aid to
Europe would intensity some short
ages, but that it would not have a
serious impact on our economy be-
cause from the standpoint of day
to-day drain the export program is
just not consequential"
Senator Pepper, Democrat, of Flor
ida told reporters he thinks the
Krug summary makes the "timid"
assumption that only such help will
be extended to Western Europe as
will not Inconvenience" the Ameri-
can people.
THAT is only nibbling along at
the job of winning the people" the
Florida Senator declared. THE OBJ
vious fact Is that we cannot afford
not to help Europe and the rest of
the world and that it is going to
require some American sacrifices to
get the job done"
Senators Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan and Brewster, Republican,
Of Maine told reporters they want
to know many more facts than those
covered in the Krug report before
they will be ready to pass on rec
concentrations the President has
said he will make to Congress ION
the nature and extent of a balanced
foreign aid program"
Brewster FOresees Revisions.
Senator Ferguson said the Krug
report, as well as others to be filed
later, will get q. thorough going
over by Congress because whatever
is done in this situation is going to
affect the economy of the United
States and the whole world for years
to come"
Senator Brewster said he wonders
whether there won't be some re-
vision soon in the requests of 16
European nations for a total of $22,-
440 .000, 900 in long range, outside aid.
He added that Congress will want to
know about any such revisions be-
fore it acts.