Evening star., 1948-02-16
President 10 Ask
More Money for
Greece, Turkey
Reports to Congress
On Aid Already Given
Against GuerriIIus

EATON WILLING to cut foreign aid
fund to get passage. Page "A
President Truman notified
Congress today that he intends
to ask more money for military
aid for Greece and Turkey.
He gave no indication of how
much new assistance will be needed
however, in transmitting to Con-
gress report on use of the $780,
100000 voted last year to help
Greece and Turkey resist Com
muniSm
Mr.. Truman declared in letter
accompanying the report that
Greece has been under "ever-
increasing pressure by the COM
munist minority drawing support
from foreign influences" since his
last report in November.
The communist obstruction, he
added, makes it clear that economic
recovery in Greece must await
establishment of internal security"
Way Open for More Direct Aid.
The President reviewed help al
ready extended by the American
mission to the Greek government in
the month period ending last
October 81, in prosecution of the
warfare against the guerrillas," and
declared:
"If the guerrilla menace should in
crease as result of greater outside
assistance, new situation would be
created which would have to be
dealt with in the light of circum-
stances prevailing at that time"
This appeared to leave the way
open for more direct American as
sistance than that extended so far
through supplies and advise OF
American officers.
Mr.. Truman noted that continued
economic aid to Greece will be pro-
vided under the European Recovery
Program if that program is author
lied by Congress, but pointed out
that this would not provide for any
additional military assistance re-
quired for Greece and Turkey.
Warfare Directed Against People.
This additional military assist
ance, he added, will "be sought from
the Congress" at "the appropriate
time"
The President used strong Ian
guage in describing activities of the
dominated guerrillas in
Greece. ~. ....-
"It is significant" he said, "that
the guerrilla warfare is directed not
against the Greek Army but against
the people of Greece. The deliber-
ate and wanton destruction OF
Greek villages does not result from
military engagements.
"It is determined and ruthless
destruction intended to render peos
pie homeless and drive them from
the soil " q and to create for them
conditions of misery and hardship
In the hope that this will make them
susceptible to political agitation"
He said the guerrilla bands (which
VI d1uC AL klIulldl1 lfllScIy dllO SlldOS
are too small to claim any truly
representative, character" They
he said, about 10000, of
which "a large proportion "are
known to have been unwillingly i'm
pressed into guerrilla ranks under
threat of death to themselves and
their families"
Cites Foreign Assistance.
The President said that benefits
from strictly economic aid being ex-
tended by the American mission can
be fully realized only when the
warfare against the guerrillas has
been successfully concluded"
He described as IAN act of des-
peration and not of strength" the
recent proclamation of govern
ment" by the Communist guerrillas.
He said this transparent device"
has not materially changed the
1See GREEK TURKISH Pc. A-1O,l