Evening star., 1947-03-01
Legislators Ask
MoreFacts on
Plight Of Greece
Study U. S. Aid to
Keep Nation From
Communist Control
BY the ksseciofed Press

Congress members of both
parties called today for a blue
print of the obligations involved
before deciding whether the
United States should take over
British commitments in Greece.
Legislators who talked it over with
President Truman and Secretary of
State Marshall at Thursday White
House conference remained uni
formly silent, but other members
said they want to know what the
move will mean in terms of money
and foreign policy.
Several said the issue is wheth.r
the United States intends to plunge
further into Europe's turbulent
political conflict between commu-
nism and other forms of govern
ment.
Future Appears at Stake.
The future of the Greek govern
ment, as well as the present regime
IN Turkey, appeared at stake in re-
ports that the British have informed
this country they no longer can bear
the financial burden of economic
and military assistance to those
nations.
Last year alone, Britain gave
Greece $40,000,00O credit and wiped
of a Greek debt of $184,000 900, in
addition to providing an army force
which stifened the government
against internal disorder and the
pressure of leftist guerriilas from
across the borders.
Senator George, Democrat, of
Georgia, member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. told
a reporter that if the British pull
out he has little doubt that Com
munists soon will seize control in
Greece and may exert new and more
powerful influence over the Dar-
danelles.
The privately expressed view OF
some of Gen. Marshall's advisers
Is that with Greece under Soviet
domination like her Balkan neigh
bors. Turkey and the oil-rich Middle
East would be helpless to oppose
Russian diplomatic and military
pressure.
Hasty Decision Opposed.
1T is an ominous situation that
will require a great deal of STUDY
before this country acts" Senator
George said. 81 don't believe any
nasty decision can be made"
Decision to assume the wavering
British commitments in Greece
probably would involve the expendi-
ture of $250,000,000 this year au-
thoritative sources estimated TODAY.
These informants said no serious
consideration has been given in the
discussions with Britain to the use
OF American troops to replace Brit
ish security forces in Greece.
The British will be expected to
maintain in Greece their reduced
force OF 10000 or more troops should
the United States decide to sup
port that nation economically, in
formants said. British government
sources have said Foreign Minister
Bevin is planning to Withdraw the
troops within the next thre months.
New Commission Proposed.
A tentative proposal advanced to
congressional leaders is that a new
American commission be dispatched
to Greece to supervise expenditures.
The current mission headed by for
mer OPA Administrator Paul Porter
merely is surveying longtime re-
quirements.
Further but smaller outlays may
be necessary later, aside from this
years proposed aid.
The United States also may be
called on to support Turkey to some
extent, with loans and surplus arms.
the congressional leaders have been
told, or risk seeing the collapse
under Soviet pressure of the entire
democratic frontier from Europe to
the borders of India.
1t was because of hte clash of the
proposed new commitments with the
current domestic economy drive, as
well as the gravity of the diplomatic
(See GREECE pooe A27