Evening star., 1949-07-24
Truman 10 Seek
Wide Latitude
In Arms Plan
To Send His Program
For Military Aid to
Conqress Tomorrow

1CSloCllU L dAllo4l kI1CA1o w oC11o
to Congress tomorrow a $l,450,-
100000 foreign military aid pro-
gram, including a request for
$45,000,000 fund for emergency
use and $155,00O,0OO to stimulate
armament production in Europe.
Mr.. Truman was "eported as
hoping to win Senate and Fouse
approval of wide presidential lati-
tude in administering the pro-
gram to meet changing conditions
abroad.
Bulk of he armament would go
to European members of the North
Atlantic pact to strengthen them
in their fight .gainst Communist
aggression.
AS the armament request took
final shape, it was learned that
United States military planners
had mapped out a program to back
up the pact countries largely with
defensive weapons while leaving
the offensive task mainly to the
] United States in the event of
war.
Would Bolster Ground Forces.
Under the program drafted by
the defense planners, the United
States would seek to bolster the
ground forces of the countries
participating in the Atlantic
treaty and furnish them tactical
airpower and small warships to
protect local naval areas.
The plans call for transfer of
rifles, mortars, tanks, ammuni-
tion, clothing and equipment and
the Army has been checking over
its stocks to determine just how
much it can commit to the aid
program.
Fighter planes and light bomb
ers would be included for tactical
air support of ground troops.
Destroyers. minesweepers and
patrol craft needed for defensive
purposes also are included in The
program.
Plans also call for substantial
new procurement since adequate
reserves must be maintained by
the Army, Navy and Air Force
for their own needs.
| About 40 per cent of the
weapons that would be supplied
would come from reserve stocks
of the armed forces. They would
be repaid later for the weapons
shipped abroad.
None of the Air Forces heavy
bombers used for offensive ac-
tion nor the Navy's larger war
ships would be included in the
program.
1t was also reported that the
arms bill will state specifically
that provisions of the Atomic
Energy Act forbidding shipment
of atomic explosives abroad will
not be changed by passage of the
arms legislation.
Stop-Gap Program Urged.
OF the totali, S938, ,450 900 would
go to North Atlantic pact coun-
tries for arms plus technical train
ing and assistance. The figure also
includes the cost of delivery Of
the goods. Another $155 ,000, 900
would go for stimulation of arms
production,
Another $4,000 in arms.
training in how to use them and
delivery costs would be earmarked
for countries outside the treaty.
The emergency fund would get
$45, 900, 900 and administrative ex-
penses would require approxi-
mately $11,o0o,ooo.
Meanwhile, Senator Vanden-
berg, Republican of Michigan.
called for submission only of a
stop-gap foreign arms program
until the Advisory Council to be
set up under the North Atlantic
Pact can name defense commit
tee to draft defense assignments.
This view was shared by SEN
ators Taft. Republican of Ohio
and Smith, Republican of New
Jersey. who said in separate in
terviews that the pattern of over
all defense should be decided be-
fore the United States starts sup
plying arms to European nations.
But Senator Vandenberg said
he would reserve decision until he
saw the Truman proposals.
Senator Vandenberg also re-
| lSee MILITARY AID Page A-6l