Evening star., 1949-08-06
Truman Concessions
Fail 10 Stop Demands
For Cut in Arms Cost

Demands for a substantial cut
in the cost of the arms-for Europe
program continued in congress
sional circles today, despite con-
cessions on other controversial
features of the plan.
A revised bill sent to the Capitol
yesterday made these changes in
the original proposal:
|. Eliminated the discretionary
authority for the President to de-
eide which countries would get
assistance.
2. Named the nations to get aid.
3. Linked the arms allotment
program directly to the co-opera-
tive defense plans to be worked
out by North Atlantic pact par
ticipants.
Vorys Sees Rough Going Ahead.
A cost slash of up to so per cent
has been urged by many members
of both the Senate and House,
but the new bill did not change
the price tag on the program.
Chairman Kee of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee said
he was considering sending the
bill to the floor as is, to let the
members work their will on 1t
there. A bipartisan economy
group in the committee opposes
this.
Representative Vorys. Republi-
can, of Ohio, an influential mi
nority member commented:
Unless the amount is sub
stantially cut. there's an awfully
rough road ahead"
Connally Reports Firm Reaction"
Representative Richards OF
South Carolina, ranking Demo-
cratic member. said:
II still think it should be cut
down. I doubt the wisdom OF
committing ourselves to spend this
much when we know they can't
use it all before Congress meets
again"
In the Senate. Chairman Con-
nally of the Foreign Relations
Committee said there was "a fine
reaction" to the modified bill in
the committee. He called 1t "a
vast improvement"
Senator Vandenberg of Michi-
gan, the ranking Republican mem
ber, said the bill has substantially
narrowed the area of controversy"
by removing the grounds for some
major objections. He added, how
ever, that some features ARE still
wide open"
Revision Restricts Assistance.
The cost now is pegged at ST.
$50 100000 It was proposed origi-
nally that the President be given
authority to apportion this
amount.
The revision restricts assistance
to the pact nations Isl ,160, $780,
o00); Greece and Turkey (s211.-
100000, and Iran, Korea and the
Philippines t$27,64o,000).
In addition, 50,000,0 900 already
has been authorized for Greece
and Turkey.
The amounts for individual
countries are not stated.
Noting the expected creation of
q 12-nation council of pact coun-
tries and of mutual defense
committee, the new bill declares
that arms aid shall be consist
ent with the common defense of
the North Atlantic area and shall
be furnished so as to further the
of defense plans of
the Council and the Defense
Committee.
Kee Predicts Approval.
During hearings on the original
version, members of Congress had
complained there was no absolute
assurance in the measure that
treaty nations would coordinate
their defense plans under the arms
bill.
The administration offer to do
away with the discretionary au-
thority on allocations followed a
news conference comment by Mr..
Truman Thursday that he was not
welded to the idea Of such au-
thority.
Mr.. Kee predicted the House
committee will approve the new
bill Tuesday with the amount
intact. But he added:
I'VE still can't tell how strong
opposition to the amount is going
to be-"