Evening star., 1950-06-07
Realistic Soviet
Will Respect Vests
Resistance, He Says
By John A. Giles

Former Secretary OF State
George C. Marshall said today
that he saw greater possibilities
for peace as the Russians find
themselves up against a greater
determination on our part not to
submit to police state procedures"
They are a realistic collection
Of operators" he commented dur
ing testimony in support of the
81 1.220,500,000 foreign arms aid
program before the House Foreign
Affairs Committee.
Chairman Kee said some per-
sons had expressed fear that the
program might encourage the
Soviet Union to move now instead
of waiting.
Gen. Marshall replied that such
a hazard was involved and that
he was convinced that Russia
would make cold blooded' de-
cision as to the date and hour
of any attack.
No Further Peril Seen.
But he told the lawmakers "in
the long run" the program would
not add to the peril of the situa-
ton, but rather would reduce it.
He said (this country did not
know too much about the inner
workings of the Soviet Union, but
they undoubtedly have their
troubles and this program would
increase them"
Going into the history of the
arms plan. the former Army Chief
of Staff recalled that it became
"glaringly apparent" after the Eu-
ropean Recovery Program was
started in 1947 that arms aid
would also be necessary to help
the morale and confidence of the
peoples in Western Europe.
They we're affected not only
by fear of the military power of
the Soviet Union. but also of the
knowledge of their own weakness"
he said. They felt helpless and
something had to be done to boil
ster their morale.
Has Helped Restore Morale.
II think that it is very important
to continue this program rather
than discontinue it at this criti-
cal moment. It already has done
tremendous amount of good in
restoring morale"
Gen. Marshall pointed out that
the South took so years to recover
after the Civil War while the
Western European countries had
gone agreat distance in that direc-
ton in two years.
He did not present any pre-
pared text and in answer to ques-
tionS said that the Congress and
the administration had a tremen-
dous problem in determining just
how far military spending can go.
You can wreck the economy of
the country or have it wrecked by
military impotence" he comment
ed.
Chinese Situation Cited.
Representative Judd. Republi-
can, of Minnesota said he could
not understand why a similar pro-
gram had not been worked out
for Asia. He commented that
Communist successes in China had
strengthened the Soviet and
weakened the position of this
country.
Gen. Marshall admitted that
this was true, but he said that
the trouble in China was that the
United States would have had to
move in militarily. He denied
that this country took a negative
position "at the start" in China
When Mr.. Judd said he was
unable to find "one word of en-
couragement to China from ad-
ministration officials, Gen. Mar
shall replied:
THE Chinese public does not
read"
He added that it had to be
realized that the situation in
Greece had been different from
that in China. and that he had
sent the best Army officer he
could find on the recommendation
of Gen. Eisenhower, then Army
Chief of Staff.
Acheson Opposes Armed Germany.
Meanwhile. Secretary of State
Acheson, commenting on yester-
days testimony by Gen. Omar
Bradley. chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. said the United
States opposes any rearmament of
Western Germany as a means of
(See ARMS AID, Page A-4)
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