Evening star., 1953-06-21
Bradley Says Fear
OF u. 5. Is CAUSING
Soviet 10 Pull Back
BY the Assoeiossd Press

because the Soviets fear in
creased United States military
strength and need time to con-
solidate their position at home.
Gen. Bradley. retiring chair
man Of the Joint Chiefs Of STAFF,
testified recently before the Sen
ate Foreign Relations Commit
tee on the administrations for
eign bill, and his testimony was
made public yesterday.
The aid bill, designed to
strengthen foreign nations mill
tarily and economically, totals
81. .998, ,732,500 in the form it
passed the House Friday night.
The Senate committee has ap-
proved $5,318, 1000, 900, but the
Senate has yet to act.
Fav0rS More Expenses.
While he said frankly that he
would favor even greater ex-
penditureS for foreign aid, Gen.
Bradley said he believes the
strength already attained by this
country has helped deter Russian
aggressive moves.
81 think that Russia has pulled
back for two reasons" he said.
zone is because we have in
creased our strength and she has
run up against a position of
strength which she respects and
she is now pulling back just as
she has done before.
"The second thing is, she
probably needs this time to con-
solidate her position at home
which fits into the first one"
Air Force Funds Cut.
The question and answer ses-
sion turned at one point from
the question Of foreign aid to
domestic defense funds and to
the administrations decision to
cut $5 billion off Air Force
funds. Gen. Bradley called this
decision a "stretchout" of the
drive toward the goal of a 143-
wing Air Force.
Senator Sparkman, Democrat.
Of Louisiana observed that prob
ably the greatest victory the
Russians could win would be
to get us to relax"
THAT is what I think a lot
OF us are afraid Of" Senator
Sparkman said. that by this
move (the Air Force fund cut)
we will let down our guard and
create a position of weakness
which will then not be a de-
terrent to war but somewhat OF
an invitation to start something"
Gen. Bradley said the military
high command would like to
reach the 143-wing Air Force
goal "aS soon as we can" Sec
.retary Of Defense Wilson has
contended that the $5-billion
cut doesn't mean abandonment
of the goal.
But. Gen. Bradley said the.
United States can't wait too long.
Russia Is Getting Stronger.
1.-THE longer we put it of, the
greater risk we are taking be-
cause certainly Russia is getting
stronger in some ways. particu-
larly her atomic stockpile," the
general testified.
He said he hoped that before
that stockpile becomes too for
midable, we would reach this
strength in air power we think
is necessary to combat reason
able stockpile of A-bombs on
their part"
He said the joint chiefs support
everything in the current foreign
aid bill, land we would actually
like to have more"
Chairman Wiley Republican
of wisconsin,, asked if Gen.
Bradley was implying that Presi-
dent Eisenhower and others who
had decided on the cut in Air
Force money requests were TAX
ing an action that is taking
America of her guard or is a
stretchout of such significance
or character that you think it is
dangerous"
Pressed on His Views.
II am sure this decision on the
part Of the Government was
made after weighing all consider
ations, not just the military. and
II after weighing all these deci-
sionS-all these elements-this
Il the decision. why we abide by
It," Gen. Bradley replied.
Pressed by Senator Wiley on
the "stretch-out" statement. Gen.
Bradley. said:
II don't think anyone can deny
that the less the amount you
give In any one year the more
you are stretching out the at
tanning Of your goal. That is
the way used the term Stretch
out
Certainly have not intended
to imply here in any way that
I question the loyalty or the
Judgment Of the President who
made this decision"
Gen. Bradley said he was
neither a Democrat nor a Re-
publican" adding that IT try
to serve my President and my
country and I will do that with
equal loyalty whether it is a
Democrat or a Republican or
whoever happens to be in power"