Evening star., 1951-01-28
India S Grain Request
Is Not Sidefracked,
ConnaI|y Declares
By J. A. OLeon

A denial that the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee has side
tracked India's request for 2 mil
lion tons of American grain was
issued last night by Chairman
Connally.
The Texas Democrat said mo
decision on the request has been
made by the State Department"
and no proposed bill on the sub
ject has been presented to Con-
gress or to his committee.
I'm the light of these facts, IL
obviously would have been i'm
possible for the Foreign Relations
Committee to sidetrack the legis-
lation, inasmuch as there is no
legislation he added.
Congressional committees also
are marking time on the contro-
versial issue of troop commit
ments for Western Europe until
after Gen. Eisenhower reports
Thursday OF his European tour
to an informal joint session of
both Houses in the Library of
Congress auditorium.
Pace Is Slow.
AS the Eighty-second CONGRESS
enters its fifth week it is still
moving at slow pace as far as
legislation is concerned.
One major bill, for another
three-year extension of the Recip-
local Trade Agreement law, NAV
be ready for House action by
Wednesday. The present law ex-
pires June IL.
The Senate will take up routine
minor bills tomorrow, and may
vote later in the week on a meas
ure giving President Truman
emergency power to reorganize
Government agencies, but allow
ing the House or Senate to dis
approve any reshuff1ing order
within IL days after it is sub
mitted.
Refers to Stories.
Senator Connally began his
statement on India's grain request
by referring to stories published in
the last two days to the effect that
his committee had "sidetracked"
the subject. He said the stories
interpreted this "as an expression
Of the committees disapproval CT
1ndia's attitude toward the Korean
war" The Chairman said the
facts regarding the Indian aid
question are as follows:
The Government of India has
made a request of the United
States Government for a long
term credit with which to buy q
million tons of grain in this coun-
try. That request is now being
considered by the State Depart
ff1ent. Assistant Secretary of
State George McGhee discussed
the matter informally on Friday
with the Foreign Relations Com
mittee's consultative subcommit-
tee on Near Eastern and African
Affairs, headed by Senator Gillette
Nb6IlOCIdL OF Iowa.
After revealing that the State
Department has made no decision
and that no bill has been sent to
Congress, Senator Connally went
on
when and if legislation is pro-
posed, it will receive the attention
of the committe. No implication
as to what the committees action
will be should be drawn from this
statement"
Humphrey Supports Request.
Senator Humphrey, Democrat of
Minnesota, came out last night in
support of India's request for grain
ito prevent starvation in that
country"
In speech prepared for de-
livery at dinner sponsored by
Americans For Democratic Action,
in Indianapolis, Senator Humphrey
said:
Whether we agree with the
present foreign policy of the In
dian Government or not, India
remains one of the few democratic
strongholds left in Asia, and we
must respond, as we always have,
to its humanitarian appeal"
Senator Humphrey said India
faces famine as the result of
earthquakes, floods and the locust
plague.
THE basis for American foreign
policy" he continued, must be
moral soul-force and not military
power alone, if we are to stop