Evening star., 1947-05-09

LACAC dl0 u lQlllpcT Vi tlllIlSS 10
be said about this pending bill. In
the first place, 1t should be under
stood that 1t sets up new formula
for foreign relief, largely devised by
Herbert Hoover at the request OF
President Truman. It takes the
place Of the outrageously incompe-
tent and mismanaged UNRRA.
In the second place, restoration of
the $3.50, ,000. 900 does not mean that
that much will be spent. Senator
Taft. who favors restoration, does
not believe more than the Houses
$200, ,000. 900 will be needed, points
out that the $3.50, 900 900 is merely
an authorization. In the third place
III all the Hoover recommendations
are incorporated, the money will be
used in a way to provide the maxi
mum relief with the minimum waste
by the most truthworthy people.
Restrictions Recommended,
Among these recommendation are
amendments to take away the blank
check nature of the bill by limiting
relief to certain specified countries,
providing essential safeguards con-
cerning dollar exchange and for in
sisting that the money be spent for
United States products and trans
portation. There Is further rec
ommendation, which the House
adopted, eliminating handling of the
money by foreign agents and insist
ing on other obvious steps to insure
that it will be honestly and capably
used.
1t is also suggested that the Presi-
dent be given power to Withdraw
shipments from countries which
produce enough grain from the l947
harvest to supply themselves for a
six-month period. But, perhaps, the
most trenchant amendment is one
to meet the very clear fact that we
cannot much longer continue to
carry these enormous foreign relief
burdens which increase our own
cost of living by undue drain on our
supplies and deprive the country of
needed improvements for our own
people.
We, should. of course, be resolute
in the alleviation of suffering
abroad, but We should invoke every
possible pressure to see that these
demands are held to the lowest
levels and that every effort is made
by the receiving countries to in
crease their own productivity and
improve their own administration.
As to the latter, it is pointed out,
some Of the demands now made on
us are due to the failure of govern
ments to collect surplus food from
their own farmers and allowing it
to disappear into the black market.
The only way to stop this, and
kindred forms Of evasion, Is prompt
ly to serve notice that large scale,
unrestricted charity is at an end
and that repayment in some form
must be undertaken.
Repayment Plan Proposed,
1t happens that all countries re-
ceiving supplies from us resell them
to their own people as necessary
part of their rationing system,
Therefore, to effect at least mod
erate pressure in the direction of
repayment, the following amend
ment has been recommended by Mr..
Hoover.
"Au receipts from sales of these
supplies by governments to their
citizens shall be paid into deposi-
tory In that country, designated by
the United States, to the credit Of
the United States. Such sums may
be used by the United States for
any expenditures on its own account
within that country and, in any
event, shall not be withdrawn from
that country until, In the view of
the President, 1t win not embarrass
the economy Of such country. In
case of repayment in kind, pro-
Iportional amount OF such deposit
shall be released"
1t Is true, these deposits may not
| materialiZe as much of an asset.
They would, however, prevent
Communist dominated governments,
such as Poland and Hungary, from
lusing the funds thus collected for
the strengthening and spread of
/ Communist control.
Another recommendation is that
no relief be sent to countries whose
armies are in excess of police needs.
THE argument here Is that it is
simply unbearable that American
taxpayers should be called upon to
pay for relief In countries with such
\ excessive military blishments.
Such establishments not only alb
sorb their resources and deprive
them of the manpower for producing
their own supplies, but threaten the
peace Of the world.
With these amendments, together
with the provision for the appoint
ment by the President OF q $40, 600
/ a-year administrator to be con-
firmed by the Senate and supervised
by the Secretary OF Agriculture. it
is intelligent and practical, as well
as enlightened self interest to enact
the bill with the full auth< ization
II nf &2S0 mn mn Without $y4ca 80 4