Evening star., 1950-09-26
Hoffman, LeavingECA,
Calls for 8-14 Billion
Outlay in Next3 Years

Vulldy III MNeMoI IedIS
Paul G.. Hoffman is leaving the
multi-billion- dollar Economic Co.
operation Administration he Or
ganized and headed for two and
a half years, with final recon-
mendation that this country spend
SO billion to $14 billion during the
next three years to "tell the story
of democracy" abroad.
1--WE have to see that the Rus
sian armies don't march," he told
a news conference late yesterday,
after formal announcement of the
resignation came from the White
House, which earlier had con-
firmed reports of his leaving.
=. Mr.. Hoffman, who will be sue
ceeded by his deputy, William C.
Foster, said this sum should be
set aside as part of the $125 bill
lion to $3.50 billion, which he de-
clared the United States should
spend over the same period to
build its own military strength
and that of its allies.
Spending Must Be Done Wisely.
The spending, he emphasized,
however, should be done. wisely.
"The moment you start throw
ing money around your program
is gone," he added.
1t has been reported that Mr..
Hoffman would become director of
the Ford Foundation, research,
educational and philanthropic Or
ganization set up by grants from
the Ford automobile family. Be-
fore coming to the ECA, Mr.. Hoff-
man headed the Studebaker Corp,
q Ford competitor.
The retiring official said he had
talked with Henry Ford II about
the. foundation, but that "as of
the moment, I have no deal"
Text of Hoffman's Letter.
Following is the text of Mr..
Hoffman's letter to the President:
Lear Mr.. PRESIDENT:
"You will recall that when you
honored me by asking me in April
OF 1948 to serve as administrator
of the Economic Cooperation Ad-
ministration I agreed to undertake
the organization of this new agency
and remain on the job until at
least January, 1949. On that date
you asked me to continue. Again
I agreed, but stipulated that I
wished to return to private life as
soon as practicable. Now. after
having served almost two-and-
one-half years. I respectfully SUBJ
NIT my resignation to take effect
September 80, 1850.
MY resignation carries no i'm
plication that the usefulness of
the ECA is waning; on the con-
trary, I believe that the ECA's
period of greatest usefulness may
lie ahead. Recently new programs
in Indonesia, French Indo- China,
Thailand and Burma have gotten
under way. AS to Western Europe,
while the nations participating in
the Marshall Plan have with ECA
aid gone far in rebuilding their
economic strength, much remains
to be done. And now that the
nations are facing the urgent need
of expanding sharply their armed
forces and increasing their pro-
duction of war material, the fur
ther strengthening and integra-
tion of their economies have be-
come essential.
Offers Praise for Foster.
''In view of the dimensions of
the tasks confronting the ECA, II
can leave now in good conscience
only because of my complete con-
fidence in the ECA organization
in Washington, Europe and Asia.
I can assure you, Mr.. President,
that the ECA is manned by skilled
and experienced people. And in
Mr.. William c. Foster, deputy ad-
ministrator, you have as able an
administrator as I have ever
known. Your decision to appoint
Mr.. Foster as my successor will be
applauded and welcomed by every
one.
In compliance with your sug-
gestion. I shall be very glad to
make final visit to the Euro
pean nations in October as con-
sultant to ECA and shall be glad
to continue in that capacity as
long as my services are needed.
"In closing. may I express to
you my deep gratitude for your
unfailing kindness and for the
stout support you have always
given to the ECA.
Respectively yours,
PAUL G.. HOFFMAN"