Evening star., 1948-11-27

funds for your church. I am afraid
we cannot do much, but I am sure
that there are a few of the old
3rd Army who, like myself, would
like to contribute our widows
mite toward helping to repair and
maintain the chapel
Gen. Gay sent letters to a few
3rd Army friends. mentioning that
perhaps others would like to know
about the situation.
Gifts Start Coming In.
To his amazement contributions
started coming in from 3rd Army
members over the world. Washing
ton contributors were Brig. Gems
John F. Conklin and James H.
ONeill, Co.'s. Robert S. Allen and
Elton F.. Hammond. 1t. Coils.
Grover C. Davis and Edward j..
Schmuck, and Maj. Charles W
Flint.
In a letter, Vicar Green de-
scribed how the Death watch bee
ties work.
The small beetles. he said, arr
able to reduce "a solid centuries
old oak beam to something that
resembles a sponge-and has about
as much strength. But the worst
of the tale is that the wretched
beetle has attacked the roof OF the
South Chapel as well, and l fear
that it also viii nave to have dras-
tic repairs to make it safe for fu-
ture generations. 1t was built in
1456 and is a little gem, SO I am
naturally worried about its pres
ervation."
The roof of the North Chapel,
under similar attack by the beetles,
was built in 1647.
Contributions toward saving the
chapcls are still coming in, Gen
Gay said. 1t is estimated the even
tual cost will approximate $4,000.
money. And there is the question
of financial assistance to the West
ern European defense union with
which this country may be linked
in a mutual aid pact.
Grain Traders Breathe Easier.
Besides the $3.50 900 900 which
Mr.. Hoffman says is needed to cover
the April 2-July gap, Congress also
must pass on the amount ECA gets
in the fiscal year starting July /.
Mr.. Hoffman has said spending will
be at a slower rate then, but j'9r
made no estimate of the sum he viii
recommend.
American grain traders, meantime
breathed easier as the ECA revealed
plans to honor scme $50,000.0C0 in
contracts between the dealers an6
foreign nations.
Since Tuesday. when Mr.. Truman
barred them from returning to over
seas markets, the traders had Won
dered what would happen to millions
of dollars in export orders nego-
tiated after Mr.. Hoffman an
nounced in September that all ECA
grain would be bought through pri-
vate channels after December /.
Mr.. Truman reversed that deci-
sion and ruled that the Commodity
Credit Corp. will continue to handle
the Marshall Plan grain exports.
Fitzgerald Clears Up Situation.
ECA Food Chief Dennis A. Fitz-
Gerald cleared up the situation last
night. He told newsmen an order
will be issued Monday which pro-
vides:
/. Payment to private firms for
grain purchases authr'/ = by ECA
before November Ir1clu ing con-
tracts which MI s be sig ed after
that date but for which n pney has
been earnarked. II
2. Continued purchase iof -four
from private sources, although for
eign countries can ask CCC to buy
for them.
3. Procurement of corn, rye. bar
ley, oats and grain sorghums solely
from CCC.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, meanwhile. was
attempting to unsnarl a $4,000, 900
cotton deal with British representa-
tives who are seeking Marshall Plan
funds to finance past purchases.
About S21 100000 of that sum was
spent before the ECA order May 81
that If European countries needed
ECA financing they must get au-
thorizations in advance before max
ing cotton purchase agreements.
At that time Britain repeatedly
was not planning to use ECA dol
lars. Now that the British govern
ment has reconsidered, it has run
into the ECA roadblock. Pending
settlement, the British have Or
dered a "temnnIYrY suspension in