Evening star., 1947-03-13

basic principles which we snail not
surrender"
Asserting that the independence
of Greece and Turkey must be pre-
served mot only for their own sakes
but also in defense of peace and
security for all of U.s." Senator Van
denberg added that in this critical
moment "the Presidents hands must
be upheld"
Mr.. Truman told Congress grimly
yesterday that armed Communists
and political infiltrations threaten
the ''very existence" Of Greece and
Turkey.
But Senator Misunderstanding
expressing belief that Congress
should be able ito do what the
President wants by March 31"-
served notice that the lawmakers
must carefully determine the meth
ods and explore the details in so
momentous a departure from our
previous policies"
Restrictions Proposed.
Although the Michigan Senator
obviously was guided by desire to
support the Presidents proposal as
full as possible in order to preserve
the principle Of bipartisan foreign
policy, some Of his Democratic and
Republican colleagues made it plain
that strenuous attempts will be
made to write at least some restric-
tions into legislation to authorize
loans to the two countries.
These restrictions may include:
l. An effort to insert direct pro-
hibition against use of American
troops in either country, beyond the
relatively small forces needed to
train Greek and Turkish soldiers
and those needed to supervise the
transfer Of supplies.
2. A proposal to limit any help
solely to relief, thus banning trans
fer of military supplies as suggested
in the Presidents personal address
to the lawmakers.
3. A move to make any aid to
Greece contingent on removal OF
King George from the throne.
Taft Is Undecided.
While he proposed none of these
restrictions, Senator Taft OF Ohio,
chairman of the Senate Republican
Policy Committee, mentioned some
of them in a statement which left
him-unlike Senator Vandenberg-
undecided on the Presidents plan.
Declaring that II do not want a
war with Russia" Senator Taft said
he was not fully advised whether in
in Greece would make
such a contingency more or less
probable.
There could be no objection to
loans to Greece for food, rehabilita-
ton and reconstruction, he said,
adding that lin the case OF Turkey
apparently we are merely asked to
finance the army"
"If we assume this special position
in Greece and Turkey" the Ohio
Senator continued, I'VE can hardly
longer reasonably object to the Rus
slams continuing their domination in
Poland, Yugoslavia, Romania and
Bulgaria"
Lawmakers Divided.
Observing that the loans accept
the policy of dividing the world into
zones of political inf1uence-Com-
munist and anti-Communist," Sena-
tor Taft said perhaps there is no
other course"
Possible restrictions were only in
the formative stage as lawmakers
split into widely divergent groups IN
their reaction to the grave shift in
foreign policy proposed by the Presi-
dent.
Roughly, five viewpoints were rep
resented in immediate comment:
l. Those who intend to support the
Presidents plan because they con-
slider it bold approach to a world
wide problem.
2. Those who support it reluctant
ly because they see no desirable al
tentative.
8. Those who want more informa-
ton before they decide.
4. Those who oppose the proposal
because they insist the United Ma
tions-and not the United States
alone-should act.
5. Those who oppose it because
they contend it means eventual war
with Russia.
For instance, Senator Brooks, Re-
publican, of Illinois told the Senate
last night that the United States
now must fight Russia" after pour
ing out billions of dollars in lend
lease aid for the Soviet Union dur
ing the last war.