Evening star., 1948-04-04
Foreign Aid
Continued From First Page.)

where the need Is great and the
dollar supply low. First shipments
to them under the new plan prob
ably will be food, fuel and some in
dustrial materials.
In the conflict between Russia and
the Western powers, Italy's situation
is considered the most critical at
the moment.
A direct move to aellnter Com
munist influence there(ka made in
another quarter yesterday. The
United States, Britain and France
joined in asking the United Nations
Security Council to reopen Italy's
application for U. N. membership.
Since Russia once blocked this, yes
terday's move puts the Russians and
their Communist associates on the
spot.
Ships to be Sped to Italy.
The aid bill became law two weeks
before the April Is italian elections
and it seemed a fair bet that ships
laden with American aid would be
started for Italy-if they do not
actually show up in port there-be-
fore the ballots are cast.
The bill which Mr.. Truman signed
at White House ceremony yester-
day was rushed through its final
stages largely because Of the i'm
minence of the Italian elections.
Those present at the ceremony in
the Presidents Office included Sec
retary OF the Treasury Snyder, Sec
retary of Interior Krug, Secretary of
Agriculture Anderson and Undersec-
retary of State Lovett.
Secretary of State Marshall-who
first proposed in a speech last June
that the United States would help
the nations of Europe If they would
help themselves-is attending the
Inter-American Conference at Bo-
gotta, Colombia.
Marshall Radioes Message.
He radioed a message which the
White House released, saying:
The leaders in Congress and the
membership generally have faced q
great crisis with courage and wis
dom - :"
In the statement which he issued
on this "momentous occasion in the
quest for world peace Mr.. Tru-
man said the passage of the act
proves that swift and vigorous ac-
ton for peace is not incompatible
with the full operation of our demo-
cratic process of discussion and de-
bate"
The Chief Executive added:
Our program OF foreign aid Is
perhaps the greatest venture in
constructive craftsmanship that any
nation has undertaken. 1t is an
outstanding example of \ co-opera-
tive endeavor for the common good
Broader Than Original Plan.
1.-THE foreign assistance act Is the
best answer that this country can
make in reply to the vigorous and
distorted Misrepresentation of our
efforts for peace which have been
spread abroad by those who do not
wish for our efforts to succeed.
This measure is Americas an
swer to the challenge facing the free
world today"
The new law is a broader measure
than the President originally asked
but, except in one point, is exactly
in line with administration foreign
policy recommendations to Congress.
The one exception was a provi-
sion in the section on aid for China.
Congress ruled that out of the
$463, ,000, 900 assigned China for the
IL months, $125,0O0, 600 may be
spent for military equipment.
For Greece and Turkey the law
authorizes an expenditure during
the IL months of $275, 600, 900 for
military equipment. Both those
countries will get their economic
help as members Of the II cooper
ating European nations (including
Western Germany in the Marshall
Plan or the European Recovery
Program.
Fund to Be Used up In Year.
The $500 10000 authorized for
the Marshall Plan will be available
for expenditure over the next four
and a quarter years but is expected
to be used up In the IL months be-
ginning April /. Early next year