Evening star., 1952-03-06
Truman Requests $7.9 Billion
For Economic and Military Aid,
Assoi|s Co It. Alone Policy
Opposition Develops
Quickly With Slash
In Totul Expected
By Joseph A. Fox

By Joseph A. Fox
President Truman today asked
Congress for $7.9 billion to build
the military and economic
strength of the free world and
counteract "the threat which
Soviet aggression carries for the
survival of civilization"
Outlining the new Mutual
Security Program which would
Text Of Trumon Message to Congress on
Mutuol Security Aid. Poee A-S
raise the country's total Cor all
defense purposes to $64 billion in
the next fiscal year, the President
warned that withdrawal from this
united endeavor, and an effort to
go it alone, would confront the
United States with "the prospect
Of bloody battle-and on our own
shores"
"The ultimate costs of SUCH a
policy would be incalculable," he
said in a 6,500-word message. cts
adoption would be a mandate for
national suicide"
Opposition Piling Up.
Even before the message reached
Capitol Hill. powerful congress
sional opposition was piling up.
Leaders Who must handle the
multi billion dollar request have
predicted it will be whitfield down.
The President will seek to boil
ster his cause with an appeal to
the Nation on radio and televi-
sion at 10:30 o'clock tonight.
StreSSing that he was not cer-
tain that the $7.9 billion sought
is not "too small" in view of the
needs, the President gave this
breakdown on proposed expendi-
lures:
Europe: $4.070,0 100000 for di-
rect military aid and $1.8 billion
for defense support" which in
cludes raw materials, commodities
and machinery.
Asia and the Pacific, $611 mil
lion for direct military and $408
million for economic and technical
assistance. The forces fighting the
Communists in Indo-China and
the Chinese. NationalistS on For
mosa would share in the funds
along with the Philippines and
Thailand.
For the Near East and Africa,
the President earmarked 5000 mil
lion for the military and $196 mil
lion for economic and technical
aid, and for the American repub-
lies, $62 million and $22 million
for these respective categorieS.
FOur-Point Preamble.
Sketching the European pro-
gram, Mr.. Truman said I'VE ex-
pect soon to complete arrange
mentS with Spain which will assist
in the defense of the Mediterrane-
an area"
The President strongly defended
the program as an instrument for
world peace, as well as for the
security of the Nation.
In a four-point preamble, he
said:
/. Lasting security" is only to
be obtained through association
with other nations.
2. The funds asked are essen
tial to the common efforts" being
made by the free nations.
3. The proposed expenditures
"will yield far larger returns, in
terms of our own security, than
if the same amount were used
for our own defense establish
ment."
4. The entire projected costs
"are well within our economic ca
pacity."
Sees Gains in Europe.
Obviously having in mind the
school of thought represented
notably by former President Her
bert Hoover, Mr.. Truman de-
clared that "some people would
have us Withdraw to our own
shores and gamble our national
safety on air and naval power"
Before the Truman message
offlcially arrived, Senator Edwin
C. johnson, Democrat, OF Colorado
told a reporter:
"The program ought to be cut
squarely in half and even that is
being too generous"
Chairman Connolly Of the Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee
which will hold hearings on the
new aid program. has been urging
a cutback in all Government
spending. including foreign aid.
Similar suggestions have come
from Chairman Mcclellan OF the
Senate Appropriations Committee,
which must vote later on actual
funds after the authorization is
passed; Chairman George Of the
tax-writing Senate Finance Com
mittee, and Chairman O'Mahoney
of the Senate-House Economic