Evening star., 1951-07-27
By J. A. O'Leory

OeIenSe secretary MarSnaIl told
&c gress today he has been
shocked" by signs of letdown in
this country following the Korean
peace talks.
Taking the stand before the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee on the $8.5 billion foreign aid
fund for this fiscal year, the Secre-
Itary said if Congress feels it must
cut the budget, it would be better
to pare down United States equip
Imeht rather than reduce the al
Ilotments for strengthening our
allies in Europe.
Chairman Connally asked the
general If a settlement in Korea
would justify slowing the defense
program.
IF one is coldly logical, there
is more reason than ever to pre-
pare" Secretary Marshall re-
piled.
He told Senator Connally that
the reaction of Americans to the
Russian proposal which started
the cease-f1re negotiations has
caused him concern.
Effect Unthinkable.
II am more shocked by what
has happened in recent days than
I have been at any time since II
have been in Washington" Gen.
Marshall went on. THE state
ment Of one Soviet representative
has very seriously affected our de-
tense program. 1t is unthinkable
to me that the American people
would react as they have to one
Soviet statement"
Senator Wiley. Republican. of
Wisconsin observed that the end
ing Of hostilities in zone little
corner like Korea might only be
the signal for an explosion some
where else
In prepared statement Gen.
Marshall earlier urged the Com
mittee to approve the full amount
of the administrations foreign aid
program for this wear as the best
investment this country can make
toward securing a free world.
His testimony Supported in sub
stance that of Secretary of State
AcheSon yesterday that foreign
aid requirements will continue at
about the present level for three
years.
Presumably taking notice of re-
ports that some members of Con-
gress want to cut the program for
the next II months, Gen. Mar
shall said the funds now being
asked for "can and must be OBJ
ligated in fiscal year 1852 in order
to produce the equipment in time
to meet" the mobilization sched-
ules of the North Atlantic Treaty
nations.
Spending Always Lags.
This does not mean the full
amount would be spent by June
80. 1852. Spending always lags
behind appropriations because of
the time required to build mill
Itary equipment.
Gen. Marshall testified, for ex-
ample, that the foreign military
laid program for the year which
ended june 80, 1850, is now about
30 per cent complete. He said the
program authorized for the fiscal
year 1851. which ended last
month, will be substantially COM
pleted during the calendar year
1852.
If the pending bill is approved,
most of the equipment in it win
be delivered by the end of the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1853.
OF the total now requested,
$50 billion is for military aid, and
$2.3 billion is for economic as
s1stance to nations in all parts
OF the world cooperating to pre-
vent the spread of aggression.
The bulk, however, is for the
North Atlantic Treaty nations.
Not a High Proportion.
Gen. Marshall pointed out that
the $6.2 billion is only 10 per
cent OF this country's own de-
fense budget for the coming year
and added:
This is not a high proportion.
when we consider the additional
forces in men and organizations
that it will make effective for COL
lective security"
The Defense Secretary re-
minded the Senators that "our
Allies plan to contribute approxi-
mately IS per cent of the man
power for this combined force"
He said France plans to furnish
20 divisions to Gen. Eisenhower
despite its losses in World War nj
and the demands made on her bv