Evening star., 1947-06-19
The Political Mil
Foreign Aid Lirnit Should
Be Set Now, Writer Holds
Over Extended Relief Seen Likely i
Wreck American Economy
Rv GONId LiNcolN

Bv Gould LiNc0tN
President Truman presumably 4 consider-
ing the proposal made by Senator VAndenberg
OF Michigan, chairman Of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, for the creation OF
bipartisan council to assay the needs Of war
devastated countries and. especially, the extent
OF the capacity Of the United States 10 meet
those needs.
There are rood reasons for the adoption Of
this proposal By the administration. First,
the American people should be put on notice
what is to Be expected Of them and their
Government ID the matter Of economic relief
and rehabilitation and should be given m
accurate estimate Of what this country can
do without wrecking its own economy. Second.
the era OF good feeling between the Republican
foreign economic as well Is political policy II
In danger Of being shattered. Should that hap
pen. the administration would md 1t exceed
ingy difacult to obtain from Consress the
necessary authority to 60 forward with aid
to friendly foreign nations in dire need.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican leader on
international policy, has performed remark-
ably: he has been great force In the develop
ment Of = bipartisan treally an American)
foreign policy. He cannot, however. continue
forever to pitch no-hit l3-inning games and
have the bipartisan policy come out on top.
Rude Check by Veto.
The Republicans in Congress have Just re-
ceived rude check from President Truman
the veto Of their income tax reduction bill.
They charge that one reason the President
used hts veto power against this measure was
to have more money for the Government to
spend. As they feel today, the Republicans in
Congress will be more critical than ever when
it comes to voting to authorize the expenditure
of billions of dollars for aid abroad. Hence,
1t becomes more and more necessary for the
establishment of a council In which the Re-
publican leadership in Congress may have great
confidence and In which Republicans win have
membership.
The President may be expected to call In
Senator Vandenberg and other Republican
leaders to discuss this proposed bipartisan
council in the near future. If resolution Is
to be introduced creating such council and
making provision for it. the move must come
from the President. The vandenberg idea is
that the council should be composed of men
whose ability Is widely reorganization example,
men OF the type OF former President Herbert
Hoover and Bernard Baruch. 1t Is not contem-
plated that members of Congress be asked to
serve on the council.
Secretary of State Marshall has definitely
declared that this country must provide assist
ance to prevent chaotic breakdown in war
devastated Europe. He has at the same time
proposed that European leaders get together
on their estimates OF what is needed to prevent
breakdown. and to give their. peoples a-chance
to come back. The contribution made by the
United States. Mr.. Marshall has asserted,
should not be ION piecemeal basis as various
crises develop. Any assistance that this Gov.
ernment may render In the future should pro-
vide cure rather than \ mere palliative"
he said.
Limit Should Be Known.
The need for American aid to the devastated
countries Is admitted generally. America can
not remain sound in sick world. But neither
can America remain sound If 1t bleeds itself
white with exports and loans to the rest Of
tho world. There Is . limit, and that limit
the American people and the Congress should
know. 81, s,{s, @ & 4.
Mr.. Herbert Hoover, in letter to Chairman
Bridges Of the Senate Appropriations Commit
tee has strongly urged an overall analysis
OF Americas resources and ability to continue
relief to the rest OF the world. He warned that
already this county has been overextending
itself In these matters In the last two fiscal
years, he said this country provided 5000 000,-
600 in relief and $7,000,000,0o0 in loans or
credits to other countries. In the same period
the exports OF this country amounted to $29, ,00o-
900 900 and its imports to 1900 600 0oo leaving
an overseas deficit Of $14,lo0 100000. If this
kind Of thing is kept up long, it is clear that the
shortages in America. will be great and that
prices will be forced still higher than they are.
Former Gov Harold E. Stassen Of Minnesota.
candidate for the Republican presidential
nomination next year, great advocate OF
American aid to war-stricken areas Of the
world, in an address at Swarthmore, warned
that If this country waits for Europe to pre-
sent a joint demand for assistance 1t will face
demands we cannot fulfill. America, he said.
should itself determine what 1t should and can
contribute.
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