Evening star., 1949-07-28

Secretary of State Acheson
as he testified before the House
Foreign Affairs Committee to-
day. -AP Photo.
quested for interim military aid to
Greece and Turkey, will make a
total OF $1,450, ,0O0, 900 available for
obligation for foreign military as
sistance. The President is directed
to terminate assistance to any ma
ton when it SO requests or when
the furnishing OF assistance to that
nation would be inconsistent with
our national interest or with our
obligation under the charter Of the
United Nations to refrain from
aiding nations against which pre-
ventative or enforcement action Is
taken.
Would Be Controlled Centrally.
Within the governmental struc-
ture the program will be centrally
controlled, it Is proposed, in view
of the inseparability of actions taken
under this legislation from the day
to-day administration of foreign
policy, that the central direction
be exercised by the Department Of
State. In time of peace, the several
instruments of our foreign policy
must be welded as a closely in
tegrated unit If we are to achieve
our objectives fully within reason
able cost.
The department will exercise
that direction in close collaboration
with other governmental agencies,
particularly the National Military
Establishment and the Economic
Cooperation Administration, with
each agency contributing what it
Is best able to provide for the
success Of the program. - 1nasfar
as possible, the program will be
administered abroad through exist
ing diplomatic and military chan
nels.
OF the funds for which authori-
cation is requested,r 1t Is presently
contemplated that approximately
81 billion will be used to furnish
military assistance to European
Isignatories of the North Atlantic
pact. The balance will be used for
assistance to other countries which
are In the immediate area Of Soviet
pressure This will permit the eon7
tinuationo of the aoGreek>3urktsh
program, which,. has been SO
effective in preventing the indie
pendence Of those countries from
being lost through external mach
nations against the will Of the
Greek and Turkish people = -
Grant assistance is also contem-
plated for the Republic of Korea,
where a government constituted as
a result of free elections under the
auspices of the United Nations is
menaced by the threat Of internal
subversion and external force, for
Iran which under severe external
pressures has strictly maintained
its independence and to which this
Government has accorded limited
military assistance in the form of
credit for the purchase Of surplus
equipment and has sent two United
States military missions; and for
the Philippine Republic as a con-
tinuation of our aid originated
under the act of June 26, 1946.
Must Allot Aid Wisely.
Since o,lr resources are limited.
the weight of our effort must be
brought to bear in those European
countries which are most vital to
our national security where the
threat of aggression is most imme-
diate, where our aid will be most
effective, and where the ability of
the economy to stand the financial
strain of military expenditure is
the least.
Nevertheless, there are other areas
IN which an increase of defensive
strength is highly desirable in the
interest of our security. We are
bound with our American republic
friends and neighbors in the Rio
pact mutual assistance. Under this
program we intend to help them
in procuring equipment. 80
This will also, of course,
prove to be OF considerable value to
Canada. In addition, we are con-
tinuing to exchange with the
Canadians vital information on
weapons and plans which will con-
tribute to the common defense, and
we are going forward with such
important matters Of mutual in
terest as Standardization of arms
and equipment.
BY combining these several mea-
sures into a co-ordinated whole,
we shall be able to make military
assistance available in accordance
with our overall political OBJ
jectives, economic capabilities and
strategic interests.
OF course, all possible contingent
cies cannot be foreseen at this time.
Should the national interests of the
United States require, the President
would be able to re-allocate funds
as between recipient nations pres
emily included in the program and
also to aid nations to whom assist
ance is not now contemplated. In
order to minimize the need for re-
ALLEGATION, a small emergency fund
Is provided so that we may take
prompt action to meet international
situations which might suddenly
develop. = ."
This one-year program represents
no more than about one fifth of the
military expenditures which the
recipient nations are already max
ing during this fiscal year for them
selves and for each other.
1t must be understood, however,
that the recipient nations cannot
achieve an adequate defensive posi-
ton by themselves. Many essential
materials and equipment can be
bought only with dollars, and If they
had the dollars available we would
not be under the necessity of con-.
tributine to their economic recovery.
Furthermore, a military production
effort AYwthese countries on too large
10 scales6oaId divert materials, man