Evening star., 1949-04-26
Biggest Share Of Arm,
May Go 10 France Due
To Strategic Location
By No Asse<iossd Press

By No Asseeicsse Press
France was reported to be In
line today for the biggest share
of the proposed American mill.
tary aid program for Western Eu-
rope.
Diplomatic officials said France
would get top priority because Of
its highly strategic location and
because its 10 divisions Of troops
are. in sore need of equipment.
The administration plans to ask
Congress for sl,130. 600 900 to re-
arm its IL Atlantic Pact Allies
during the next year. An addi-
tional $500 900 900 viii be re-
quested to bolster the defenses
Of other friendly countries"
Britain stands second and Italy
third, officials indicated. among
the nations tentatively due to get
American arms. equipment and
raw materials under the program.
Congress Aroused by Secrecy.
The Allied strategic plan Is to
build up the French Army and
air force as rapidly as possible.
because 1t would be the major
obstacle to any Russian invasion
of Western Europe.
Top Government officials said
some details of the military assist
ance program are so confidential
that not even Congress. which
must appropriate the money. will
be told about them-a statement
which drew prompt fire from Cap
itol Hill.
These top secret" matters in
clude how much each country will
get in American arms; the types
and amounts of weapons to be
supplied and the exact status Of
their armed forces.
/ Chairman Cannon Of the House
Appropriations Committee served
notice that Congress won't write
a blank check" for administra-
ton officials on the arms program.
Fund Request Called Excessive.
I'VE will have to know how
much they will spend for each
country and what the purpose will
be so we can determine II 1t Is
effectively used" Mr.. Cannon said.
He added that he considers the
81 ,450, 900 900 asked for the pro-
gram too high" He said he Is
certain it can be cut down with
out endangering American secur-
ity.
Chairman Mcclellan of the Sem
ate Appropriations Committee,
took a somewhat similar attitude
toward the official desire for
secrecy.
Senator McKellar said he has
not been formally notified Of the
State Departments view. But he
said he will demand very full and
complete information" before
recommending appropriations.
Military Missions Provided.
Government officials working on
the arms-for- Europe program said
that under it the United States
would send military missions
abroad to teach the use Of Amer
ican weapons and materiel.
Such capital equipment" as
guns, tanks. ammunition, artillery.
transportation and armored equip
ment would make up the largest
part of the program. they said.
They estimated that American
money would furnish 10 to 20 per
cent of the entire sum to be spent
on rearmament by the European
nations.
The present plan is not to arm
new divisions. but to bring old ones
UP to fighting trim.
Supplies Would Be Given Away.
The necessary supplies would be
given away by the United States
not lend-leased under a program
calling for q later settlement. The
conditions under which the arms
could be used would be specified,
however.
Meanwhile, Chairman Connally
of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee disclosed that Henry
Wallace, vigorous critic Of both the
pact and the arms program, has
asked to be heard when the treaty
hearings begin tomorrow.
Secretary of State Acheson is
scheduled to lead OF the hearings
for the administration. About 100
witnesses are due to be heard dur
ing the four-to-six-week session.