Evening star., 1951-07-08
9 Senators Take Off
For Europe 10 Check
On Atlantic Defense
By Jack Bell
Associated Press Stoff Writer


Senators bound for Europe car
ried with them disquieting reports
on lack of progress in efforts
to build up the North Atlantic
defense army.
These reports apparently stem
med from secret testimony given
by Louis johnson, former Secre-
tary OF Defense. to the Senate
Armed Services and Foreign Re-
lations Committees in their in
Vestigation of Gen. MacArthur's
custer.
The Senators, 9 of the 13 mem
bers of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee. took off from MATS termi-
nal at National Airport at 2 pm.
yesterday. They will spend six
days in Paris then visit London,
Madrid, Athens, Ankara and
Frankfort.
Mr.. johnson was quoted by
Senators who heard him testify
as having said that Gen. Eisen-
hover has run into extreme diff
flculty in getting Allies into mo-
ton.
This was countered to some ex-
tent, however, by reports from an
administration official, who asked
that his name be withheld, that
Gen. Eisenhower has been meet
ing with marked new success
within the last few weeks.
To See ENJOYS, ECA Men.
A Senator, who also asked to
remain anonymous. told a re-
porter lawmakers had been as
sured earlier in the year that
European nations would have
more than a score of combat
worthy divisions in being this
month.
Whether this goal is anywhere
near attainment is expected to
be one of the chief questions to
be asked by the nine members of
the committee on their two-week
inspection of Western Europe.
Senator Green. Democrat, of
Rhode Island, chairman of the |
group, said in a statement that
IN addition to questioning Gen. {
Eisenhower about progress on the
defense organization. the group /
hopes to learn about the morale 6
and Well-belng of American t
troops stationed in Europe"
He said the committee will talk
to ambassadors and Economic Co. r
Operation Administration chiefs i
of mission on visits to Paris, Lon
don, Madrid, Rome. Athens. An
kara and Frankfurt. T
Would Slice Economic Aid. II
Senator Green said the commit :
tee expects to return in a couple ,
of weeks with firSt-hand informa-
ton on the proposed $85 billion
foreign aid program which ap-
parently faces rough shedding in
Congress.
Senator George. Democrat. of
Georgia. member of the commit
tee who is not making the trip,
told reporters he favorS cutting I
the foreign aid program by at s
least SIS billion and possibly as :
much as 50 billion. He said most :
OF the slice should come in eco
nomlc rather than military aid g.,
Senator Wherry of Nebraska,
the Republican leader, told a re-
porter COP members have not yet
come down to cases on this issue.
But the Nebraskan said he has '
found informal sentiment for I
extensive cuts" in the request, q
particularly in the S2.2 billion item I,
for economic aid. Of the total $6.3 :
billion represents proposed mill :,
tary aid outlays. =
Second Group Considers Trip. I
The members are talking about y
cutting several billion dollars of !.
this total" Senator Wherry said =
We'll have to figure out what :
can be done, but there will be some +
cuts made" Il
A Second group of Senators also ,
is considering flying visit TO I
Europe next week for a checkup I
on the forces being assembled by
Gen. Eisenhower. l
The trip was discussed at
session of the Senate Armed 7
Services Committee earlier yester-
day behind closed doors and with
out any announcement.
1t was learned that Senator
Cain, Republican of Washington, =,
made the suggestion for separate >!
Armed Services Committee check " Y.
up, to be- limited to a visit to .
leaders and centers in p
Europe. o
Chairman Russell - was busy /
hearings on the annual
Agricultural appropriation bill SO
he asked Senator Lyndon Johnson, Il
Democrat of Texas, to preside. o
In addition to Senators Cain VI
and johnson. Senators Kefauver. Z
Democrat of Tennessee, Stennis
Democrat of Mississippi and Long I
Democrat of Louisiana, attended d
The group decided to poll all .
13 members of the committee TO =
learn whether they favored the
trip and how many Senators could a
go for about 10 days, leaving next
Tuesday.