Evening star., 1951-08-16
Foreign Aid Program
Cut by S651 Million
BY House Committee
By ]. A. OLeory

Administration leaders wer,
Striving today to save the foreign
aid program from further cuts a.
the House prepared to start de-
bate on the $7S billion bill re
ported from the Foreign Affair
Committee. =.
Representative Richards, Dem
Iocrat. Of South Carolina, com
Imittee chairman, told his col
leagues war with Russia is not in
Ievitable, and that the military aie
this country is sending its friend!
overseas is designed to prevent
not to fight, another war.
Before reporting the measure
the committee chopped 1851 ,250,'
900 from President Truman's re,
quest for $8.5 billion, and Mr.
Richards pleaded with the HOUSE
not to cut it again.
Indications are the President
supporters have no hope of re.
storing the committee cut, bu
they will concentrate on beating s
Republican drive to take off a!
much as another billion.
May Vote Tomorrow.
Voting is not likely to starr
before tomorrow, as many mem.
bers are expected to make foreign
policy speeches this afternoon
Mr.. Richards sounded a note oi
optimism when he said the mutua,
defenses being built up in Western
Europe and other cooperating
areas will be 80 strong thai
Russia will not dare attack"
When the House was passing
the $56 billion supply bill for this
country's own armed forces last
week, Representative Mahon
Democrat, of Texas. in charge o1
that measure, told the HOUSE
there is only a minimum pos.
sibility" of averting an all-out wal
with Russia.
Il do not concur in that opin.
ion." said Mr.. Richards. In my
thinking, the mutual security
program is not offered here be.
cause war is inevitable"
He added that it is offered te
build defensive strength to the
level that will prevent Worlc
War III.
Mr.. Richards recalled that the
United States has spent nearly SIC
billion on security for the free
world" since the end of World
War II. and he believes it has
full value by checking
the spread of communism to
Western Europe.
New Agency Sought.
In addition to cutting the bud
get estimated by $651 100000. the
Committee recommended all for
eign aid be supervised by a new
headed by single ad-
with cabinet rank.
The committee denied in it's re-
port two days ago that this change
was intended to relegate Secre-
tary of State AcheSon to a SUBJ
ordinate position in the handling
of foreign aid. Some Republicans
have been demanding that foreign
aid be separated from the State
Department.
Mr.. Richards said today the
new set-up is not intended as a
slap at anybody" He said it was
adopted because the committee
felt a more efficient job can be
done. and responsibility pin
pointed with central agency.
The new administrator would
have to consult with Secretary OF
State Acheson and with Defense
Secretary, Marshall on policy mat
tiers. and if any two of them are
unable to agree, the President
would make the decision. t'
Here are the committees cuts
and the amount requested origin
ally by the President:
Europe: Cut $265 million in
and $34O million In eco
nomic aid, from requests of S.
293 million and $1.675 million.
Near East and Africa: No cuts
in the $415 million sought for mil
ltary aid, and a $50 million in
crease over the $125 million re-
quested for economic help.
Asia and Pacific areas: Cut sos
in economic and the same
amount in military aid from re-
quests for $555 million and S262
respectively
Rehabilitation aid for Korea ::
Cut $101 ,250,0O from $112,25O 900
requested. The $11,250,oO0 ap-
proved was referred to as a down
on later outlays for Ko-
rea.
American republics: NO cuts
from $40 million requested for
aid and S22 million Tor
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