Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-07-27
Chiefs Of Staff to Fly to Europe
Friday to Discuss Arms Plan
Details With Atlantic Powers
Wait for Facts Before
Deciding Aid Fund,
Acheson Pleads
By Gornett D. Homer

Secretary of State Acheson to-
day appealed to members of Con-
gress to hold up Judgment on the
81 $50, 000, 900 arms aid bill until
they hear all the evidence the
administration has in support of 1t.
He told a news conference that.
despite growing pressure on Capt.
toll Hill for drastically cutting the
program, he still hopes the full
amount asked by President Tru-
man will be approved this session
and believes the administration
has a good case for it.
Mr.. Acheson will begin presen-
tation of this case when he ap-
pears before the House Foreign
Affairs Committee tomorrow to
explain the program.
No Flush Hush" Report.
The Secretary told his news
conference that all information
the State Department has about
Russian military strength. as well
as the armed forces of Western
Europe, will be available to Con-
gress. But he denied that the
department plans to submit any
terrific hush hush reports that
would create what he called a
tizzy-wizz. He refused any spe-
cific answer when asked If the de-
partment had information that
Russia was actively preparing for
war.
Mr.. Acheson's discussion of the
arms program was touched of
when reporter asked his reaction
to opposition arising in Congress
and particularly to suggestion
by Senator Vandenberg. Replb-
lican. of Michigan that congress
sional action this session be limit
ed to an interim program.
The Secretary said that. OF
course, any view of Senator VAN
denberg would be entitled to and
would receive the most respectful
consideration in the State Depart
ment because Of the Senator'S
great service in the development
of bipartisan foreign policy.
interim Program, He Says.
He added that the position OF
the military assistance bill is I'M
usual because it has been debated
before it was sent to Congress and
before testimony tbout 1t was
heard.
Many people, Mr.. Acheson said,
are expressing views about the
program before the evidence is in.
He said some of these views are
basically sound but arise from a
misconstruction of the facts.
He cited as an example the de-
mands on Capitol Hill for limiting
action now to an interim program.
That is exactly what the admins
tration program is, as he will ex-
plain to the House committee to-
morrow, Mr.. Acheson said.
He added that the administra-
ton bill is for an interim. stop
gap program to deal with the stu
alton prior to creation of stra-
tegic plan by a military committee
to be set up under the North At
lantic treaty.
Content to Present Facts.
This program. he added. at
tempts to remedy deficiencies of
existing forces in Western Europe
so that the strategists will have
something beside paper with which
to work when they start their
planning.
In saying that he hoped men,
bers of the Senate and House
would suspend further judgment
on the program until they hear
all the evidence in a week or 10
days, the Secretary said they
might then still want to modify it
and that would be their privilege.
He added that it would be I'M
fortunate, however, if the program
recommended by the administra-
ton is reduced. But, he said, he
did not want to 60 into any dis
cussion of the effects of a cut now
because that would be interpreted
as an attempt on his part to ap-
ply pressure to Congress.
He will be quite satisfied. Mr..
Acheson continued. to lay the
(See ARMS, Page A-5.)
Tokyo Awaits Storm