Evening star., 1949-03-28
Sabotage, Propaganda
StifIe knowledge Of
ECA, Bridges Asserts
" the Associated Press

~ the Associated Pres3
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire. complained to-
day that sabotage and Communist
propaganda prevent Europeans
from knowing what America is
doing for them under the multi
lion-dollar recovery program.
AS congressional leaders brought
pressure for early Senate passage
of the $3.50 ,0O0,0 authorization
for the Economic Cooperation
Administration. Senator Bridges
said he and Senator McCarran,
Democrat, Of Nevada; would de-
lnand tightening of two phases of
the foreign aid program:
/. Rigid requirements that all
foods. machinery. supplies and
raw materials be conspicuously
labeled to show they come from
the vast ECA program financed by
the United States. This is in line
with demands under previous re-
lief programs that United States
shipments carry a Made in Amer
lea" label.
2. Closer inspection ION the
spot" In Europe of actual use of
goods, material and supplies to
see that this use is in line with
plans and intentions.
Other Charges on Tap.
The Bridges-McCarr amend
ments were added to a stack of
other proposed changes and
speeches. Together, all these may
upset plans of Majority Leader
Lucas of Illinois for Senate pas
sage early this week.
Senator Lucas had hoped to
have the huge authorize ton out
of the way last weekend. but
Republican Floor Leader Wherry
of Nebraska said 1t may be
Wednesday or later before that
happens.
House leaders may open debate
tomorrow on the ECA authorize
ton If it wins clearance from the
House Rules Committee in time.
The House bill carries $500, ,000,-
600. or 5000, 100000 less than the
Senate measure. But this is Offset
somewhat by a plan to guarantee
$277, 900 900 of American business
investments in the European ma
tions.
Senate Leaders Fight Cut. |
Senate leaders hoped to defeat
a series of attempts to whittle
down the s5,5S0,0 100000 authori-
zation for the next IS months.
Senator Capehart, Republican,
Of Indiana. asked vote on his
proposal to limit the total 70
$4,000, 100000. He lost a similar
attempt last year.
Senator Taft, Republican. of
Ohio, wants to hold the foreign
aid authorization to $4,280, 900 900
for Is months with special au-
thority to President Truman to
spend all of it in IL months If
he finds that wise or necessary.
# these reduction attempts fail,
other Senators said they will ask
tests on. lesser cutbacks. n"'t '"''
Chairman Connally Of the, SEN
ate Foreign Relations Committee |
said heswill fight all ht1emptytto !
cut down the $500, 900. 900 total. |
Il think the Senate is recon-
ciled to carrying out this pro-
gram" he said. 81 don't like to
give away money. either. but I
think the second year Of ECA
operations is going to be the most
important. If it goes we'll then,
we may be able to make substan-
tial cuts the following year"
Bridges Learned Of Torn Labels.
Senator Bridges served as chair
man of special Senate House
watchdog committee" which had
the job of checking on the original
American recovery plan for
Europe.
The watchdog group learned
that ECA labels were torn from
many packages and supplies,
Senator Bridges said, so that
housewives who got food, or work.
men and industries who got tools
and equipment did not know it
came from the American-financed
recovery program.
In some cases railroad cars and
other equipment, from which ECA
emblems could not be removed,
arrived in a damaged condition
attributed to Communist sabotage,
Senator Bridges said.
He also said Russian agents
worked in other ways to minimize
the extent of American aid, and
to mislead the recipients of Amer
lean bounty.
Under present regulations, Sen
ator Bridges said that importers
usually the Europeans-are respon-
sible for applying ECA labels.
He said the proposed amend
ment would shift this responsible
ity to suppliers-usually Ameri-
cans-with an affidavit required
on compliance. The tags and laoels
would have to be printed in the
language of the foreign recipients
instead of in English, which Sem
ator Bridges said has been the
case.
Televised programs will be pro-
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