Evening star., 1949-07-23
Taft and Smith Urge
Arms Aid Delay Until
Defense Plan Is Ready

Senators Taft. Republican, OF
Ohio and Smith. Republican, OF
New Jersey called on the ad-
ministration today to delay its
foreign arms program until the
new North Atlantic Council drafts
common defense plans.
Senator Smith, who voted for
the security treaty when the Sem
ate ratified it Thursday, told 3
reporter he doesn't believe there
should be "piecemeal action" on
rearming Western European sign
ers of the pact.
Il hope the administration will
delay submitting any arms pro-
gram until the defense committee.
to be set up by the council under
Article 9 of the treaty, can canvass
the needs and agree on an over
all defense plan." Senator Smith
told a reporter.
Senator Taft, who voted against
the treaty, said he agrees there
should be study of the needs of
the European countries before
Congress is asked to act.
Fall Meeting Seen.
Meanwhile, diplomatic author
tiles said d-September is the
earliest date the council can meet
to draft common defense plans
because of time needed for ad-
vance preparations.
President Truman originally had
planned to send his $1,450,000,0 900
foreign military aid program to
Congress yesterday, but its deliv-
cry to Capitol Hill was postponed
until Monday. The reason for this
was repeatedly desire to avoid
strengthening the hand of Sena-
tors seeking to cut foreign eco
.nomic aid funds in the midst Of
Senate debate on that program.
Besides message outlining his
plans for sending arms to West
ern Europe. Mr.. Truman will send
along a bill authorizing him to
conduct the arms plan. 1t was
reported that the bill will specif-
cally state that the provision Of
the Atomic Energy Act, which for
bids this Government to send
atomic explosives abroad. will not
be changed by the arms legisla-
ton.
Would Reassure Congress.
Such a legislative provision in
the foreign arms legislation would
tend to reassure those in Con-
gress having recently voiced fears
that Mr.. Truman may want to
give A-bombs to Britain.
Senator Taft. in urging study
of the armament needs of Euro
pean members of the Atlantic al
lance before sending them arms,
said:
Il am in favor Of giving arms
to Greece and Turkey, and I
might even vote to turn over some
surplus equipment to some of the
treaty signers, but I'm certainly
opposed to any all-out program
that will start world arms race"
Despite signs that it is in for q
stormy reception, President T1u-
man wants to get his $1,450,000,-
900 proposal authorized and the
money appropriated before Con-
gress adjourns. Of this amount
$1,130, 100000 would be for treaty
signers and the remainder for
Greece and Turkey, with driblets
to about 20 other nations.
Not Necessary Now.
Senator Smith, a Foreign Rcla-
tions Committee member who has
been staunch supporter OF most
administration foreign policy
proposals, said he is not convinced
that any large scale military
supply program is necessary now.
II don't think we should do
anything that will interfere with
the economic recovery program"
he said. THAT is the important
thing now, to get nonmilitary
supplies to these countries.
1T is possible that an arms
program would do more harm
than good, particularly If it
started an armament race. And
I don't think we should act
hastily.
I'VE ought to wait until we know
more about each nations assign
ment and we can tell more intelli-
gently what each needs in the way
of arms
Fight Anticipated.
Although the Foreign Relations
Committee has known about the
proposed arms program for sew
eral weeks. members said they
never have been furnished a break
down on the needs of individual
countries or the amount of equip
ment that would be involved.
House Foreign Affairs Commit
tee members are ready to go to
work on the proposal as soon as it
is officially submitted.
The Senate apparently will wait
for the House to act before it takes
up the matter, since debate on the
pact indicated there will be a
strong Senate fight against the
arms program.
|GoriNu Is Killed