Evening star., 1948-03-03
Marshall Warns
0fGravePeriIt 10
Greece, Turkey
ForrestuI Joins Plea
For More Arms Aid
To Keep Them Free
BY the Associated Press

OCCl CGd1 VI oUdUC WAL Slldll
and Secretary of Defense For
restal told Congress today there
is grave danger" Greece and
Turkey cannot remain free un-
less they get more military aid
from the United States.
The two cabinet members testi-
fed jointly to the House Foreign
Affairs Committee in support of the
administrations request for $275,-
100000 to be spent on guns, planes
and other weapons for the two Ma
tions.
Gen. Marshall said that arming
the Greeks and Turks would be
"discouraging" to further aggression
against their countries.
Both Gen. Marshall and Secretary
Forrestal left little doubt they were
thinking of Russia.
Communist Intentions Clear.
Gen. Marshall said there is clear
evidence in Greece and Czechoslo-
vakia of Communist intention
against all Nations that stand in
the way of their expansion"
And as long as threats confront
Greece and Turkey, Gen. Marshall
said, there can be no assurance that
American assistance can be stopped.
Mr.. Forrestal said it is evident
that "the military position in both
countries must receive our first
attention"
He added:
Greece and Turkey lie on the
fringe of totalitarian countries,
whose actions leave little doubt
that they hope to extend their con-
troll over these two strategically To-
Gated nations"
Guerrillas Are Getting Help.
Congress voted $4oo, o,ooo,o 900 for aid
to Greece and Turkey last May. The
$275 900 900 additional the lawmak-
ers are now being asked to vote
would be for spending in the II
months beginning next July /.
The $4O0, 100000 was divided $780,
100000 for Greece and 100000, 900
for Turkey. It was originally planned
that half of Greece's $500, 0,000, 900
would be spent to improve business
conditions there. But Gen. Marshall
said $172, 900 had to be spent for
military aid because of the guer-
rilla warfare in Northern Greece.
Both the cabinet members said the
guerrillas are getting help from
neighboring countries on the north.
They said that economic recovery
in Greece depends on first wiping
out the guerrilla nuisance.
Must Reinforce Greek Army.
"No program of reconstruction"
Mr. Forrestal said, can be carried
out until the guerrillas are reduced
and military stability achieved
Therefore. we must reinforce the
Greek armed forces by furnishing
supplies and providing technical
assistance"
Gen. Marshall and Mr.. Forrestal
both said, too, that Turkey is under
foreign pressure and needs con-
tinued help if her people are to be
assured of keeping their independ-
ence.
Mr.. Forrestal stressed the "strate-
gic military importance" of Greece
and Turkey.
If Greece should fall under con-
troll of a totalitarian minority, he
said, the effect on Turkey would be
extremely serious" Turkey, he
said, bars the path to the ambi-
tions of any power coveting the rich
resources of the Near East"
In addition" he said, "the loss
of Greece and Turkey as free and
independent states would have a
demoralizing impact on other coun-
tries which are struggling to main
tain their freedoms under most diff
ficult conditions. The consequences
of display of weakness on our
part in this critical area are beyond
calculation.