Evening star., 1947-09-29
Only Congress
CanAid Europe,
Truman Says
Conferees Not Agreed
On His Position on
Special Session

SkC$tOl SCSSlOIl
President Truman was report
ed to have informed congress
sional leaders today that emer-
gency funds for aiding Europe
cannot be provided without con-
gressional action - possibly a
special session.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois, talking with reporters after a
White House meeting, said he un-
derstood Mr. Trumans attitude to
be that there must be a special ses-
sion OF Congress this fall if Eu-
ropes emergency needs are to be
met
But all the II Congress members
attending the White House confer
ence did not have that impression.
Two Republicans, asking rot to
be quoted by name, said they
thought Mr.. Truman probably will
ask the House and Senate commit
tees dealing with appropriations ard
foreign relations to meet informally.
From their studies a determination
probably would be made whether to
call Congress into special session.
To See Press Today.
The White House announced that
the President will have a news con-
ference some time during the aft
ernoon.
The Congress members and PreSi-
dent Truman talked over the prob
lem for two and half hours. Also
attending the meeting in the cabi-
net room were Secretary of State
Marshall, Secretary of Agriculture
Anderson and Secretary of Com
merce Harriman-composing the
Cabinet Food Committee Under
secretary of State Lovett also was
there.
One congressional Republican said
he believed there was a meeting
of minds so far as procedure (call-
ing together the four committees)
to be followed is concerned" He
said this means that Congress prob
ably could not be called into session
before December l If the President
should finally rule that necessary.
This informant said the President
reported that about S1,100, 900, 900 of
aid will be needed He said the
figures given were $500, 100000 to
$700,000.000 to see France and Italy
through the winter and up to $780,
100000 additional to feed popula-
lations in British and American
occupied areas of Germany and
Austria.
Up to Half Billion Discussed.
Another Republican said figures
discussed for interim relief in
Europe, particularly for France and
Italy ranged up to half billion dol
lars.
He expressed the opinion that in
term relief could not be given
without Congress specifically ap-
propriating money or directly au-
thorizing the Export Import Bank
to advance the money.
There is no way interim relief
can be given without legislation" he
said.
Senator Lucas. the only one of the
congressional conferees willing to
discuss in any detail the results of
todays deliberations, said his under
standing was that the President
said the Government lending agen-
cies had been canvassed and that
no funds for the European emer-
gency program could be obtained.
1t had been suggested that gen
tlemans agreement" might be
worked out with the congressional
leaders to advance funds from the
Export-Import Bank or the Re-
construction Finance Corp. as a
stop-gap plan to help western Eur
ope until some overall program can
be adopted.
Senator Lucas told reporters that
the Appropriations Committees of
the House and Senate will be called
back.
The Illinois Senator said there had
been considerable discussion" of
the sums needed.
Exchange of Views.
House Majority Leader Halleck
replied, "Oh, no." when reporters
asked whether there had been a
meeting of minds at the conference.
He said there had been an exchange
of views.
In addition to Senator Lucas,
other members of the Senate at the
conference were Senate President
Vandenberg, Senator Connally of
Texas, ranking Democrat on the
Foreign Relations Committee; Ma
jority Leader White and Chairman
Bridges of the Appropriations Com
mittee. Senator Lucas was desig-
(See FOREIGN AID. Page A-6.)