Evening star., 1948-06-09

2reSS and thus to brand tneSe pol
icies before the world as capricious,
and impotent. We cannot
build leadership for peace upon any
such shifting sands.
When ECA was on the Senate
floor, / expressly invited your sub
scrutiny of its detailed ap-
l do so again. 1t Is
your responsibility. I would not
presume to interfere. I am not here
to speak of detailed figures or OF
specific estimates. These problems
will legitimately arise when you have
reported. I am here solely to plead
for your basic allegiance to the de-
clared policies of Congress when you
deal with the ECA bill as it comes to
you from the House.
Il do so with greatest respect
for the House. But I am sure my
friends in the House-as well as III
the Senate-would lack comparable
respect for me if l did not promptly
assert my anxious disagreement
with what I believe to be danger
GUS and improvident decision.
Recalls Big Majorities.
"Mr. Chairman, it is necessary to
remember that both the Senate ana
the House approved ECA by over
whelming majorities. Thus they
the most ambitious en-
terprise for recovery and peace. on
a basis of self-help and mutual CO.
operation, which was ever launched
They gave it immediate life with an
advance of $1,000, ,000, 900 from the
RFC. They put it Immediately tc
work. This sounded as though we
meant business I think we did.
so did Western Europe. These
countries proceeded to seek un-
precedented unities in response to
our self-help specifications. They
accepted our good faith and pro-
ceeded to prove their own. They
did it at tee hazard of serious re-
prisals when communism declared
bitter war upon the enterprise
More progress toward unificatior
has been made in few months
than in centuries preceding. This
is progress for peace and freedom
for us as we'll as them. 1t is the
greatest possible insurance against
the war we do not want. 1t is the
greatest possible insurance against
our need to use the increased arma =
ments for which we concurrently
vote other precautionary billions.
Il do not mean to reargue the
basic point. That point was settled
when Congress passed the ECA
enabling legislation after the mos:
exhaustive study and debate which
any subject has received in my time
But 1 do mean to argue. Mr.
Chairman, that the practical effect
of the House bill is to repeal, by
the intent and purpose
of this legislation and to reverse
this established American foreign
policy both at home and abroad.
Warns of Confusion.
Il do mean to argue that this
Congress, as a matter of intelligent
self-interest, cannot afford to throw
our attitudes INTO doubt and thus to
the terrified confusion of
a world in which the forces of ag-
greSaon and subversion thrive upon
confusion. We must not feed the
very fires we would put out.
Il. do mean to argue that any
such cynical reversal would be a
ma jor policy decision which should
not be made through the back door
of an appropriation bill Indeed, it
should not be made at all
Again, with great respect, I take
note Of some Sola. the revealing
speeches on this issue in thesother
House. Here is one approach:
1t is a source of satisfaction to
those of us who opposed this leeis-
lGtion to find that the Appropria-
tions Committee has made real
effort to go at this job in an in
telligent fashion
World Gropes for Confidence.
mo comment is necessary to un-
derscore my point. l can under
stand the satisfaction of those who
oppose this legislation if it still be
their preoccupation to win the last
battle after losing the first. But
that is precisely why I am here to-
day. I do not believe America can
afford to be unreliable in a world
which is cropping for confidence and
faith as the basis of security and
peace.
The action of the house cuts
ECA in sums variously estimated
from s500,0OO,0o0 to 100000 900.
The latter figure is probably closer
to the net effect. I could under
stand specific amendments. based
upon specific reasons-even though.
upon examination, I may disagree
with them-provided the amend
ments are not incompatible with
the purposes of the original act. I
would be the last to say that the
figures are untouchable.
But I do quarrel, Mr.. Chair
man, with any reductions which
subvert the principles and purposes
OF the original congressional COM
mitment. 1 emphatically quarrel
with the final, overall. meat-axe
technique which arbitrarily spreads
the net appropria alton over is in
stead of IL months, which is equiv
aient to a horizontal cut of 20 per
cent. and which, in my humble opin-
ion. CUTS the enterprise.
In one fell swoop this takes away
like 1000 900 900 without
a sclntilla of regard for all of the
screened figures upon
which all ECA estimates were made
and upon which its program must
De built.
Report Is Quoted.
The House committee report it.
self said; 1T is admittedly impossible
.or any one to state with any degree
If assurance the actual needs of the
participating countries within ST.
100, 100000 Whereupon. without
any degree of assurance more than
II 900 100000 was cut away from
what. admittedly, may be the needs
of ECA if it is to succeed.
Il respectfully submit. Mr.. Chair
nan. that. for our own sakes. we
1are not deal with this vital prob
em in the life of the world, includ-
ng us. in an such cavalier fashion.