Evening star., 1948-06-20
j. ). Declared Able
To Send West Europe
Few Arms This Year
BY the Associated Press

The United States has reluctantly |
decided it can send only very small |.
quantities of American arms and |
ammunition to Western European
nations this year, Government offi-
cials reported yesterday.
Only a grave European crisis in
volving Russia could cause the ad-
ministration to reverse this deci-
sion-and then only if Congress
gave special approval.
A Government official who dis
closed this acknowledged the policy
is certain to mean serious disap-
pointment to friendly European
governments which want substantial
quantities of American military
equipment as quickly as possible.
The decision, however, reflects the
State Departments basic belief that
Russia plans no direct aggression
against any European country dur
ing the next six months at least.
Countries which have appealed TO
the United States for arms include
Norway and Denmark. They want
minimum amounts" Of rifles, guns,
tanks and artillery.
Teeth Needed in Alliance.
Spokesman for. the Brussels Pact
countries-Britain, France. Belgium,
Holland and Luxembourg-have
made it plain they likewise need
American arms and ammunition TO
put teeth" into their new alliance.
The decision about arms for
Europe comes after months OF con-
sideration. Informed officials said
the State Department and the armed
services have concluded that the
Government lacks legislative author
ity to dip into American arsenals to
supply anything like the quantities
requested by the Europeans.
This conclusion automatically rules
out. they said, any thought that the
Army Department could declare
Surplus" some up-to-date arms.
enabling them to be sent to Western
Europe.
The actual surplus of arms left
over from the war is insufficient to
meet more than a small fraction OF
Europe's requirements.
Senate Approached Issue.
The closest approach Congress has
made to the problem of arming
Western Europe was in the adoption
of the so-called Vandenberg reSolu-
tion by the Senate.
This document put the Senate on
record as favoring United States
participation in a regional arrange
ment under the United Nations
Charter with other countries, in
cluding Western Europe.
However. it did not specifically
authorize the administration to fur
nish arms to Western Europe.
There was no effort to push an
authorization bill through Congress
in the closing days before adjourn
ment.
Passage Is Doubted.
The administration believed:
/. Chances of passing were doubt
full.
2. Such a move might be seized
upon as campaign issue that
might threaten the bipartisan for
eign policy.
As things nov stand, the only way
the United States could rush large
quantities of arms to Western
Europe after the adjournment of
Congress would be for the President
to summon a special session to act
on authorizing legislation.
State Department officials cur
rently are trying to determine in
conferences with the Army and Navy
which countries should get what
little surplus in arms is, available.
Few Expected to Purchase.
To add to this proposed distribu-
ton, these officials said the State
and Commerce Departments are
prepared to give the Western Euro !
peans permission to buy from pri-
vate arms manufacturers in the
United States Proba bly,, however, /
few countries will do this, since the
type of equipment they could buy Is
limited, and their scanty supply of
dollars is urgently needed for re-
construction and relief purposes.
OF course. each country wanting
arms could make its own. This. |
however, would divert raw materials .
from reconstruction uses. 1t also is .
doubtful whether Marshal Plan ma /
terial could be used for this purpose. !