Evening star., 1949-08-20
Senate Leaders
To Fight for Full
Arms Bill Funds
But Compromise
On Truman Demand
Seems Probable

Administration leaders made
plans today for Senate fight
for the full amount of President
Truman's foreign arms bill. ST.
450, 900 900, but all signs point to
compromise in the end.
Chairman Connally of the Sem
ate Foreign Relations Committee.
leading the administration forces,
called for restoration of the entire
$3.50 ,495 900 cut the House made
in the funds for Western Europe.
But in the Senate he will find a
group of influential Democrats
going along with most Republi-
cans for some reduction.
If the Senate makes a smaller
cut than the House the end result
probably will be to split the differ
ence in conference. Senator Con-
nally first must get the bill out Of
the Foreign Relations and Armed
Service Committees. which are
handling it jointly. No committee
action is expected before Tuesday.
and Senate passage may be de-
layed until after Labor Day.
Vandenberg and Dulles Firm.
Senators Vandenberg of Michi-
gan and Dulles of New York, Re-
publicans. stood firmly on their
demand for a reduction to a round
ST 900, 100000. Chairman Tydings
of the Armed Services group talked
in terms of the same amount.
Critics of the program ap-
plauded the House action.
Senator Byrd. Democrat. of Vir-
ginia. called the slash "a step in
the right direction"
Senator Russell. Democrat, of
Georgia. approved the cut. adding
that in his opinion it would be
enough for this country to ship
$3.50, 100000 worth of surplus mil
itary equipment to the Europeans
this year. without spending any
additional cash.
Senator George. Democrat. Of
Georgia, said he thinks the House
action reflects the views 'of peo-
pie who are pretty close to the
grass roots" He has been advo-
eating cutting the administra-
tion's request in half.
Gurney Wants Adequate Amount.
On the other side, Senator Cur
ney, Republican. of South Dakota.
said he wants an adequate amount
made available. But he said he
wasn't welded to any particular
figure.
Senator Smith, Republican. of
New Jersey. announced he will
support the Vandenberg- Dulles
proposal to shave $16O, 1890, 900 of
the administration request and to
mesh the program into a mutual
defense plan to be drafted by the
proposed North Atlantic council.
Senator Connally. whose COM
mitees will start writing up bill
next week. said he knows the
Senators he is working with don't
want to scuttle the arms program.
Testimony before our commit
tee reveals it is carefully planned
program" he said in a statement.
Secretary of State Acheson and
Secretary of Defense johnson tes-
titled that the full amount is
needed and needed now. The
Joint Chiefs of Staff. fresh from
their consultations with the po-
Ilitical and military leaders Of
Western Europe. assured us that
the s1,400 0,000, 900 is the minimum
figure.
Tydings Fears Mistake.
II sincerely hope that the
Senate will approve the Senate
bill with the full authorizations
recommended by the Secretaries
of State and defense and our
military leaders"
Senator Tydings hit about the
same note. He said the House
action was a mistake, adding that
Gen. Omar Bradley. chairman of
the Joint Chiefs Of Staff, had
testified that s1.160,990 900 is the
minimum needed for western
Europe.
ITO cut substantially below the
minimum is to defeat the whole
purpose Of the program" he said.
The House left intact the ad-
ministration's request for $211,-
300 for Greece and Turkey
and $27,640, 900 for Iran. Korea
and the Philippines.
4 II e ~l-l.