Evening star., 1948-02-16
Eaton Willing 10 Clip
ERP Commitment
To Obtain Passage
by J. A. O1edry


Chairman Eaton of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee said
today he still favors the full
amount of $4,000, 100000 for the
first Is months of the European
Recovery Program, but will 60
along with the decision of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee to make 1t $500, ,000, 900
for IL months If that is the best
he can get.
"T want to see this job done right" ;"
said Representative Eaton. I'm
still for the whole thing, but if this
(tne Senate committee decision) is
necessary to get it through, am
for that"
Although Mr.. Eaton, like Chair
man Vandenberg Of the Senate COM
mittee, is an ardent believer in a
bipartisan foreign policy, he may
encounter considerable opposition
in the House in trying to win ap-
proval even Of the modified r.
month program.
Monthly Rate Unchanged.
Senator Vandenberg pointed out
last week that the Senate commit
tee bill will give the Administration
the full amount 1t believes neces-
sary from month to month. The
reduction Of 81, 500, ,00o, 900 in the first
authorization was accomplished
merely by limiting the initial outlay
, to II months instead OF Is, with a
view to giving the new Congress an
earlier chance to pass on the prog
ress Of the recovery program next
spring.
RECOGNIZING that the Senate bill
does not reduce the monthly rate Of
aid to the 16 cooperating countries,
Representative Eaton called the
change merely "sugar-coating."
He announced also that his
House committee will end public
hearings on the Marshall Plan Feb
ruary AZ. This will give his COM
mittee several weeks to reach a de-
cision before the Senate passes the
bill.
Herter May Be ''Watchdog."
Meanwhile there were reports
that Representative Herter, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts,, Is being
considered by some as a likely
choice to head the joint WATCHDOG"
congressional committee to observe
the progress Of the recovery pro-
gram. s.
Commenting on a report that he
Is backing Mr.. Herter, Senator
vandenberg said he regards Mr..
Herter as qualified for the task, but
Is not pushing any candidate. Mr..
Herter is chairman Of a special
House committee appointed last fall
to study European conditions first
hand
Although one group of Repubh-
cans, led by Senator Taft OF Ohio,
is expected to wage Senate floor
fight for a lower amount for the
first year of the aid program, II; the
vote were taken today informed
sources are confident the committee
figure would pass.
If the recent downward trend In
grain prices Continues, one Of the
first results naAE be to make VOTES
for the MarshalIsPlan among Md
western memberkm Congress who
otherwise might be cool toward
continued spending for foreign aid.
Exports Would Aid.
Representative-uorys, Republican,
Of Ohio. q .htgnsrylking member of
the Foreign Affairs Committee. said
today "the farmers will be scream
ing for the Marshall Plan in few
weeks" If prices are going down at
home, he said, continued export
market for agricultural products
will look better. even though 1t is
financed by American aid,
Comments Of others from the
midwest bore out this view, for
example:
Chairman Hope of the House
Agriculture Committee said, "1f the
Marshall Plan goes into effect 1t
looks like an outlet for surplus agri-
cultural products for the next three
or four years.
Representative Chiperfeld, Repub.
lican, of Illinois, a Foreign Affairs
Committee member, said 1t is
rather an interesting and definite
possibility" that the price slump will
mean more votes for the Marshall
Plan and a full-scale program.
Meanwhile, the special House
committee which Mr.. Herter headed
called for a careful screening Of pro-
posed shipments under the aid plan
for two reasons:
/. To safeguard the American
economy from an excessive" out
flow of scarce materials.
2. To insure effective use OF
United States goods sent abroad.