Evening star., 1947-07-15

The truth is Mr.. Truman has
bungled badly his relations with
Congress, and the facts about the
situation have been slow to come
to the surface. Few members OF
Congress like to say now what they
would or would not vote for, but the
Marshall Plan has little chance of
adoption at the present time.
This may be one reason why the
White House announced there would
be no special session in the autumn.
The President probably realizes that
he could not make as good case
for aid to Europe this year as he
might next year.
"Show Me" Attitude.
There may or may not be a rela-
tionship between Mr.. Truman's veto
policies and what has happened on
Capitol Hill to his foreign policy.
But there is noticeable coolness
toward further authorizations OF
money and a tendency to require
that existing funds be made to carry
further along, perhaps until well
into next year before more funds
are voted.
The attitude OF the majority in
Congress seems to have developed
into a show me" position. The ad-
ministration has not yet shown what
the Marshall Plan embraces. This is
presumed to be because the Euro
peans themselves have not outlined
what they can do on their own and
what they really need,
In any event, any idea that Con-
gress will vote vast sums for Euro
pean aid is wholly mistaken. If
the Europeans come up with pro-
gram that is convincing, members of
both parties in Congress will find
themselves compelled to help it
along, but this will be because of
the facts presented from Europe and
not because of any confidence in the
Truman administrations arguments.
Secretary of State Marshall stands
high in the esteem of members of
both parties. He nevertheless rep
resents the Truman administration,
which, in the opinion of many Sem
ators and Representatives, has been
playing politics with the veto power
and hence is likely to be treated on
political basis hereafter with re-
spect to all requests for money.
What irks some of the leaders on
Capitol Hill is the unwillingness of
the Truman administration to help
cut expenses. Never before has
there been such stubborn defense of
bureaucracy by any administration.
The budget-cutting members of Con-
gress have encountered resistance
and even lobbies by its own agencies
have been tolerated by the admin
istration in defiance of law.
The tragedy of all this is that in
political campaign next year, Mr.
Truman will be in the position of
having a $1,000, 100000 surplus which
he will want to use in large part
abroad while denying American tax
payers any relief. He will not have
the votes to use it for Europe De-
mands for tax reduction will be re-
newed.
Stupid Politics Seen.
The Presidents veto on the tax
bill and the failure of the admin
istration Democrats to stand up for
the prerogatives of Congress in the
matter of fixing tax rates has all but
wrecked the Marshall Plan already.
Stupid politics is inexcusable at a
time when the world is crying for
economic sinews to end the chaos of
reconstruction and to bring stability.
The Marshall plan is noble con-
cept and 1t has given hope, to the
world But the administration has
played its cards badly, and it may
be predicted that no action on it will
come before the early part of 1948
and then only after bill of particu-
lars so comprehensive and persua-
sive has been presented as to COM
mand a majority in Congress and
return OF bipartisan support.
The decision TO refrain from call
ing a special session of Congress in
the autumn is confession of tenn
porary defeat for the Marshall Plan.
1t reflects the unwillingness of a
majority to vote vast funds for
Europe at this time Europe will
have to struggle along with plans of
its own for several months and Con-
gress will have another look at the
situation early in 1948, with the
prospect that very little will be voted.
Certainly the so-called $25 900, ,OO0,-
600 program is out altogether and
appropriations for Europe may not
average more than $1,000, 100000 a
year for the next three or four years.
This is huge sum and should be Of
great help to Europe, but the ad-
vance notices raised the hopes of
Europeans to believe a much higher
figure Of spending was Forthcoming.
The President might have gotten an
authorization through at this session
to support the Marshall Plan If he
had dealt differently with Congress.
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