Evening star., 1949-07-28
u. S. Failure to Provide Arms
Would Invite Soviet Aggression,
Acheson Warns House Group
Sees sl,450, 900, 900
As Minimum Needed
In Present Situation
By J. A. O'Leoy

By }. A. OIeory
Secretary of State Acheson
bluntly warned Congress today
that failure to go through with
military aid for free nations may
invite a combination of political
and military aggression by
Russia.
Appearing as the first witness
before tthe House Foreign Affairs
Committee in support of the ad-
ministration's $1.450. 100000 arms
bill. the Secretary said the figure
had been placed at the minimum
level of expenditure which makes
sense in view of the political and
military objectives to be achieved. -
This was his answer to a sub
stantial group in both major par
ties who already have served
notice that they think a smaller
interim program would be suffi-
cient until comprehensive defense
plans are worked out by the North
Atlantic treaty nations.
Largest Peacetime Force.
Secretary Acheson said Russia
today maintains the largest
peacetime military force in the
history of the world. while exert
ing IRON listed control over its
neighbors and pursuing a policy
of exploiting any evidence of
weakness in Others"
He pictured Western European
countries as living under the
shadow and constant fear of Rus
sian armies. He said the COM
bination of "a huge aggressive
force on one side and admittedly
inadequate defenses on the other
has created a morbid and per-
vasive sense of insecurity"
At the same time Mr.. Acheson
said fears that the administration
program might start an arms race
or provoke the Soviet Union to
war, lin my considered opinion
are groundless."
There is reasonable ground"
to hope that operations against
the Greek guerillas under the ear
lier Greek Turkish program may
be brought to successful con-
clusion in the near future"
Insists Full Fund Is Needed.
Under questioning. Mr.. Acheson
told the committee that expert
witnesses are prepared to show in
executive session that every bullet.
every radar set or other piece OF
equipment is going to a particular
place to meet a special need and
that there is nothing general about
this program except $46, 900 900
emergency fund.
Therefore. he said. when the
question is asked. Where can you
cut it?' my answer is if you cut
1t you will fail to achieve some
essential need"
The committee opened the hear
tnes in one of the smallest rooms
in the basement of the Capitol.
When news and radio reporters,
followed by motion picture cam
eramen with their tripods, got
into the room, there was no space
left for spectators.
. No Plan to Use q. s. Troops.
Although several committee
members announced their support
of the bill without reservations,
most of the questions put to Mr..
Acheson reflected the uncertainty
as to how far this session of Con-
gress may go on the subject.
Mr.. Acheson assured Represen-
tative Fulton, Republican, of Penn
sylvania, there are no plans in
connection with this bill that con-
template the use of American
troops.
The Secretary frankly told the
members of the committee he
cannot predict how long CON
tributions of this character will
be required of U.S."
All through his testimony, ran
the theme. however. that there
would be more danger of war in
a show of weakness, or of turn
ing back from American foreign
policy of the last few years. than
in giving like minded nations this
amount Of defensive help.
Bigger Threat in Failure.
"Some who oppose this program
do so because they fear that by
sending arms to other nations we
should be increasing the chances
of war, or. alternatively, that the
arms we give might some day be
used against u.s." said the Secre-
tary.
"On the contrary, I am con-
vinced that failure to reinforce
the determination of free nations
to defend themselves against sub
version from within and aggression
from without may invite a COM
bination of political and military
aggression"
Speaking directly Of Western
Europe, which would get about
$1,i00. 900, 900 of the program. Mr.
Acheson said it has been asserted
the threat to this area is primarily
political, not military.
Arms Back Up Politics.
Answering this argument, he
went on:
1T is quite true that the West
ern European struggle for freedom
has so far been fought with politi-
cal and economic weapons. 1t
is equally true. however, that
throughout this struggle there has
been in existence behind the Iron
Curtain the greatest peacetime
combination of military forces the