Evening star., 1948-02-17
2ChangesV Voted
AsCommittee
Approves ERP
Senote Group Fovors
Charging ; Billion
To Current Surplus
By J. A. O'Leov

The Senate Foreign Relations
Committee today voted a unani-
nous report on It's revised Euro
pean Recovery Program, with
two last-minute changes. They
are:
l. The is cooperating European
countries will be called on to bal
ance their budgets as soon as prac-
ticable.
2. Three billion dollars out Of the
total to be spent by the United
States for all forms of foreign aid
during the 12-month period Begin
ming April would be charged to
the current fiscal year, because the
Government expects to wind up the
current year on June 80 with a sub
stantial surplus.
The first amendment was offered
by Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas. 1t makes budget balancing
abroad one of the goals the CO.
operating countries must agree to
seek as a condition to sharing in
this recovery program.
Millikin Urges Second Change.
The second amendment was sug-
eested to the Foreign Relations
Committee by Chairman Millikin of
the Senate Finance Committee,
which will handle the question OF
tax reduction later on.
1t makes no change in the $780,
600 900 to be spent on the recovery
program during the first year. It's
only purpose is. as bookkeeping
matter, to charge $4,000, 100000 to
this fiscal year, even though that
much may not be spent until after
the new year begins on July l.
Senator Millikin is understood to
have told the foreign relations group
that since the administration is ask
ing for more than $4,000, 900 900 for
all forms of foreign aid at this ses-
sion. it seemed highly desirable to
allocate a part of this burden back
to the current fiscal year, in which
there will be surplus of more than
that amount.
Would Reduce Surplus.
II Congress adopts the amend
ment, the net effect will be to re-
duce the surplus for this year an@
leave this session of Congress III
a better showing of the total .>pro-
pristed for next year.
Chairman Vandenberg II the for
eien relations group announced
Senate debate on the revised bill
will start March /. Observers be-
lieve the Senate will pass the bill by
March IS, leaving only two weeks
for House action and conference
agreement before the deadline.
Informed sources pointed out last
week that If this long-rsnge pro-
gram is not passed by April /, some
emergency extension of the existing
stopgap aid law may face Congress
to prevent hardship in Austria and
one or two other areas.
Changes Made in Bill.
Most important changes the Sen
ate committee made in the original
Marshall Plan were:
|. Shortened the first installment
from Is to u months. which brought
the amount down from $500 ,000,-
600 to SIS, 800 ,000. 900, without reduc-
ing the monthly rate of assistance.
? 2. Provided for an Independent
administrator with cabient rank, to
put him on an equal footing with
the Secretary of State. Both OFF,
cisls could then go to the President
for a decision whenever they dis
agree on whether question involves
a foreign or economic policy.
The Senate committee made many
other changes in detail but none
which altered the basic principles of
the Marshall Plan. and the unani-
nous vote of approval was another
. victory for Senator Vandenberg,
who has been able to bring several
major issues through his commit
tee without dissenting voice.
The committee decided today to
leave the Official name of the bill
the Economic Cooperation Act"