Evening star., 1949-08-13
Committees Sef
ToVoteo eonArms
ar|yNext Week
Congressmen Divided
On Cunudiun Plan to
Exchange Equipment
By J. A. OLeory

HOUSE anu S6lidJ6 COIIlIlllClGeS
will be ready to vote early next
week on the administration S
81, ,450 100000 foreign arms pro-
gram, all signs continuing to in
dicate that Gen. Macarthur will
not return to testify on conditions
in the Far East.
Meanwhile. members of Con-
gress divided in their comments
on suggestions that Canada and
the United States swap military
supplies. Defense Secretary
johnson reported to the President
yesterday a Canadian proposal to
furnish this country warships, all
craft, small arms ammunition and
other items in exchange for
American military supplies. The
proposal is not expected to have
any direct bearing on the penaine
arms bill.
The House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee may vote Monday on the
arms bill. under which $l.160.-
100000 would 60 to strengthen the
defenses of the North Atlantic de-
fense pact nations. and the re-
mainder to Greece. Turkey. the
Philippines. Korea and Iran. Ad-
ministration leaders hope to get
the bill out of the House commit
tee without major alterations, but
a sharp fight on the floor of the
House is in prospect.
Senate Amendment Likely.
The Senate Foreign Relations
and Armed Services Committees,
handling the measure jointly, ex-
pect to vote by Tuesday or We'd
nesday, with strong indications
that some amendment will be
written in to make sure the mu-
tual defense committee. which is
to be set up in a few months under
the North Atlantic treaty. has a
voice in distribution of the weap-
ons.
Although the two Senate COM
mittees voted 13 to II yesterday
to request Gen. Macarthur to
come home and give Congress his
views. the Supreme Commander
in Japan is reported as believing
critical events in the Far East
will not make it possible. He
turned down a similar invitation
from the Senate Appropriations
Committee a year ago, and there
are no signs the President will
order him home.
Republican Floor Leader Wher-
ry of Nebraska argued that If the
General had returned last year
for a report to Congress this
country's China policy would
not have disintegrated into the
situation it has"
Lessons in Democracy.
Senator Morse. Republican. of
Oregon, said Gen. Macarthur s
return would be lesson in demo-
cratic processes. by giving Con-
gress information it needs.
Gen. Macarthur takes the view
he could shed little light on con-
ditions in China, because that
country is not in the area of his
command. Senator Wherry said
that If conditions are so critical
outside China. Congress should be
told about them.
The motion asked that Gen.
Macarthur come here before the
arms bill is voted on was made
by Senator Knowland. Republican,
Of California, who wants more in
formation about defense plans in
the Pacific.
Split on Arms Trade.
Chairman Connally of the SEN
ate Foreign Relations Committee
said the proposal to swap weapons
with Canada looks as If 1t might
be helpful to both countries"
But Senator Maybank, Demo-
crat, of South Carolina, said he
doesn't like the idea of exchang-
ing United States supplies for
anti submarine vessels, one of the
Canadian items named.
Senator MagnuSon, Democrat,
of Washington, cautioned against
going into any deal by which the
Canadians would be called on to
produce highly technical war
equipment and thus do away with
the need for trained personnel
and know-how in this country.
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire, said that if the
plan involves acquiring naval ves-
sells from Canada, he doesn't
think it will work out.
We've got more ships tied up
now than we know what to do