Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-21
U. 5. Likely 10 Spend
z Billion in Revivinq
Germany This Year
Ry Wallace R. Deuel.
Ser..pondent Of The Stor ond me
Chleoao Dolly News

CORRESPONDENT Of The stor and fhs
| Chicago Daily News
| Having poured out billions of
dollars to beat Germany to its
knees during the war, the United
states is now pouring out bill
llions more to get the Reich back
lon its feet.
Germany will cost the American
Taxpayer somewhere between ST.
I50o00o,000 and $4,000 ,000, 900 this
tyear, study made here reveals.
1.-The figures that add up to this
total are official budget and other
estimates.
The consensus among responsible
Officials here is that the total cost
10 the United States of occupying,
administering and aiding Germany
is likely to be even more than
these estimates would indicate.
The Germans are supposed to pay
back most Of this money some day
out Of the future earnings of the
Reich national economy.
Repayment Doubted.
However, you can count on the
fingers Of catcher's mitt the num-
lher of responsible people here who
seriously believe that the Germans
will ever pay back much, if any,
pf the money the American taxpayer
rs pouring into the Reich.
Here are the best available off,
fial estimates of the main items in
the total cost for this year, OBJ
tained in each case from the COM
potent officials here in the various
departments and agencies reSpon-
sible for disbursing funds:
Pay, allowances and maintenance
of United States forces in Germany,
1911 100000
Other expenditures by United
States armed forces, mostly food
and other relief OUTLAWS for Ger
mans, $7O000o,O00.
ECA advances to the combined
United States and British zones,
s4oO,0Oo,00o.
ECA advances to the French zone,
375 100000.
Total, s1,546, 900, 900.
Air Lift Raises Figure.
Germany is costing the American
taxpayer even more than this. how
Sever-thanks partly to the Russian
blockade of Berlin.
1t may be costing the United
States as much as sl.500000 a week
to fly food and other necessities into
Berlin, 1t. Gen. Lucius D. Clay re-
Gently intimated.
1t is also costing the Navy good
deal of money to ship the airplane
fuel and lubricants to Europe which
the Air Forfce needs for its Berlin
air lift, according to Navy spokes-
imam.
Besides these OUTLAWS, the United
States has loaned the German Eco
nomic Council of the combined
American and British zones $183,-
10000 with which to buy war sur
plus stock which originally cost the
United States $875, 100000.
Budget Allows 1911 ,0O0,0
The Arrny's budget for this fiscal
year allows $206, 100000 for the pay
and allowances OF Army personnel
In Germany and $165, 100000 for
their messing, billeting and other
maintenance costa total of $751;
100000. =,
The Army also expects to spend
almost twice this much again
feeding the Germans in the Ameri-.
can and British zones: providing
them with seed. fertilizer, gasoline
and lubricants; "re-educating"
them, paying salaries of American
and German civilian employees of
1.-THE Office of Military Government
and for other purposes.
The Army has estimated the total
scost of this second category of
soutlays in its budget for this year
|at 1868 100000. However, respon-
lsible officials say the total will
probably amount to at least $780,
tOO0,OUO ana quite possibly more.
The Economic Cooperation Ad-
mjnistration is still working out its
plans for this year. Estimates of
probable expenditures by areas and
commodities are still subject to
change. Final disbursement vii!
probably be close to present tenta-
tive allotments, however, officials
Ssay.
A special committee of the Euro
ipean Council. which is supposed to
help divide the total available ECA
funds among all recipients in Eu-
rope, has proposed that the COM
Fbined American and British zones
in Germany receive 364,000,00O this
year.
ECA officials here think that "Bi-
L