Evening star., 1950-10-22

as much to be expected as tilree
meals a day are in this country
But political conditions and Rus.
sia's threat to the democratic way
OF life made this otherwise unpal-
latable move necessary.
Moscow Pushes Buttons
/ The Atlantic pact was only 9
piece of paper. however, without
any actual military Importance
unless our European allies were
provided with arms and military
equipment. The military aic
program then was devised and
rammed down the throats of the
same legislators who earlier had
the fear that money spent so law
ishly on the Marshall Plan might
boomerang against our own eco
nomic structure. The sums re-
quired at first were modest-only
$1.2 billion for the first year and
somewhat more the second.
Meanwhile, Moscow started
pushing buttons and the cold wal
became more active in Europe
Previously concealed friction with
Moscow became an open strain in
relations. Reports poured into
Washington that the Russians
were cooking up something for
Western Europe. We knew that
they had the capability of doing
anything they wanted.
The original estimates of the
Allied general stats that Russia
could not be ready for action un-
til sometime in 1855 had to be
revised. The consensus of mill
tary men in Europe was that she
might be ready to strike, either
directly or through her East Ger
man puppets, sometime in 1851 OF
1852. =
This required the stepping up of
Western defenses. And while the
governments of continental Eu-
rope lndlcated-somewhat vaguely
that they would raise the neces-
sary manpower to provide some 25
divisions in the next Is months
we were called on to send the
necessary equipment immediately
across the Atlantic.
As a copSao,ap,a Man
prlatlons for this fiscal year total
Ing Sl.2 billion had to be raised by
another 81 billion. Thus. from
VI day to the present the Amer
lean taxpayer has provided the
outside world with some $50 bill
lion.
Administration Arouses
Concealed items, such as the
Sl82 million spent on the Italian
election two years ago, are not in
cluded in this figure. There may
oe other such expenditures from
secret funds which are still kept
secret.
1t was only when Moscow began
Its shooting war in Korea that it's
plans for American economic at
triton really came to light.
The Korean aggression aroused
the administration from its deep
slumber. The defense budget had
to be drastically revised. Neces-
sary funds were appropriated for
the immediate emergency in
Korea, which called for the mobil-
lzation of several National Guard
divisions Immediately. The mill
tary effectives of the Army, Navy
and Air Force were raised to near
ly 2 million men.
The current budget of $34 bill
lion now is considered insufficient.
Soon after the return of the 81st
Congress on November q the ad-
ministration proposes to present a
supplemental budget of $35 billion,
devoted exclusively to military ex-
penditure at home and abroad.
The administration has come to
realize that prosperity in Europe,
to which we have devoted more
than $50 billion, does not raise an
adequate rampant against Russian
plans for world domination. 1t
has come to realize that guns, not
butter, are the answer to Russia S
/ threat.
Meanwhile, however, the foun-
dations of our economic structure
are beginning to feel the effects
of the lavishness which our Gov
eminent has practiced since the
beginning of World War II. The
administration realizes that un-
less some miracle happens and
the Kremlin and the Politburo
disappear, many more billions
must be expended for arms, am
munition and the mobilization of
the armed forces.
Today, despite economic recov-
cry in Western Europe, the bulk
of the military equipment for the
Atlantic pact must be provided by
the United States. In addition
since the continental members of
the pact are not eager to mobilize
their own manpower, we are called
to add at least 10 more American
divisions for the defense of West
ern Germany.
Tension Pays OFF
All our pleas to France to agree
to our plans to organize an efficient
German army SO far have been
in vain. France expects the ut
most assistance from us in Europe
and in Indo-China. But the pol
iticians at the head of the govern
ment are unwilling to help us by
overlooking old hatreds, prejudices
and fears.
/ France does not seem to realize
that our resources are not mex.
haustible. We are saddled with ar
expenditure of $50 billion for thi.
fiscal year. This is at time wher
the national debt totals $3.50 bill.