Evening star., 1947-05-06
Taber Demands
Cleanup otu.S.
Cultural Setup
Opposes Funds to
Extend Progrom Of
State Department
By Gornett D. Horner

BY Gornett D. Horner
Chairman Taber of the House
Appropriations Committee said
today the State Departments
international information and
cultural affairs program would
have to be cleaned up" before
he would approve providing any
money to continue it beyond
June 80.
He denounced as "camouhage" a
conference late yesterday at which
Secretary of State Marshall empha-
sized to him and other key members
Of Congress the Importance of the
program to American foreign policy.
The conference was held soon
after Mr.. Taber's committee reported
to the House its refusal to approve
a single penny of the $31 1881 ,220
fund the State Department asked
for its Office of International Infor-
nation and Cultural Affairs to
finance ''Voice OF America" broad
casts and other OIC activities abroad
during the 1948 fiscal year.
Compromise Reported.
While State Department officials
were basing their hopes largely on
friends in the Senate restoring all
or most of the appropriations, the
Associated Press reported a COM
promise that would provide 10000
600 for the foreign information pro-
gram was In the wind in the House.
Mr.. Taber said, IF they had q
cleanup ! would be willing to con-
slider their needs" but declared he
believed $4,000, 900 would be more
than they need"
Representative Stefan, Republican,
of Nebraska, chairman Of the House
subcommittee handling State De-
partment appropriations. said he
WINS "in accord" with Gen. Marshall's
aims, but could not consider voting
for any money for the OIC program
until it was authorized by law.
Legislation formally authorizing
tho "voice Of America" broadcasts
and other OIC activities was passed
by the House last session, but died
In the Senate. The Foreign Affairs
Committee has promised early con-
sideration of the bill again this year,
but there is considerable doubt about
ITS chances of final enactment in
the rush Of other business before
Congress.
Hopes Pinned ON Senate.
In the absence of authorizing leg
islation, the appropriation can be
blocked by single objection in the
House. State Department officials,
who questioned whether specific
legislation Is needed to authorize
the program, hope the Senate will
approve the OIC appropriation and
hold out for 1t in conference with
the House. A conference report
could not be blocked on the same
technicality as the original appro-
priation bill In the House.
Mr.. Stefan emphasized. however,
that he would be willing to "talk
business" about OIC appropriations
only If the program had legal
authority"
Mr.. Taber also listed authorizing
legislation as one of the conditions
for reconsidering the matter, but
his demands for a Cleanup" were
much more far reaching.
"The entire business setup," Mr..
Taber declared. "is atrocious, extrav-
-agant, and ridiculous.
= "If they would get competent peo-
pie to run the program instead of
q lot of chairbottomers, they would
get better results"
Evidence OF Communists.
He charged that notice which
he said was found on a State De-
-partment bulletin board last month
denouncing President Truman's
efforts to rid the Federal payroll of
Communists indicated there were a
large number of folks of that kind
up there"
~ Mr.. Taber said he would want to
see evidence that the whole State
Department is pulling In one direc-
tion, and not In two." He cited what
he described as a broadcast "glori-
flying Henry Wallace at the time
Gen. Marshall was trying his best
/. to work out a peace with Stain and
Mr. Wallace was doing his best to
prevent It," as an instance of what
he termed pulling in opposite direc-
tions.
The conference called by Gen.
Marshall at the State Department
yesterday was concerned particu-
larry with the "Voice of America"
part of the OIC program, which
also includes operation of American
a libraries and information offices
abroad to help spread the story of
America, as well as provisions for
exchange of students, showing of