Evening star., 1953-03-29

nounced pursuit Of waste and sub
version in the Voice program, In
highly -publicized and televised pub
lie hearings, as threatening to de-
stroy its credibility, and therefore
its usefulness. throughout the world.
They point to deriSive comments
on the Moscow radio since the Nc
Carthy investigation got under way
as an indication Of the damage
being done.
Hickenlooper Probe
They will say, too. that as a result
Of the investigation the Voice en-
ployes are thoroughly demoralized
and terrified" In contrast to what
are described as the "meat-ax"
techniques used by Senator McCar-
thy they point to the investigation
being conducted by the Senate For
eign Relations subcommittee under
the leadership Of Senator Hicken-
looper, Republican, Of Iowa. This
inquiry is being conducted without
fanfare and many are of the opinion
that out of it will come the WORTH
while recommendations for improv-
ing the whole information program
overseaS-presS, motion pictures, II.
braries, exchanges and radio.
Whatever the outcome of the in
veStigationS, the Voice and the coun-
try'S entire psychological war effort
Is receiving the closest attention at
the highest levels of the adminiStra.
ton. President Eisenhower has in.
dicated his concern over the prob
lem by naming Presidents Com
mission on International Informa.
ton Activities to evaluate the pro.
grams with particular reference to
international relations and national
security"
Brighter Future
All Of this bodies well for the
Voices future. For most Of its re-
cent existence it has been in the
position Of an unwanted stepchild
who has been merely tolerated. The
State Department from time to time
has indicated it would like to get rid
OF the responsibility and Congress
itself, which authorized the under
taking, has been something less than
SolicitouS for its welfare.
From 1848 through 1852 the Con-
gress voted about $57.2 million for
the Voice operations alone. Since
1948 the Voice has been given an
additional 1868 million for construc-
ton. For the 1948-195O three-year
period the Voice got along with
annual appropriations not exceeding
$8,555, ,162 - year for operations.
With the outbreak of the Korean
war, Congress, a bit jittery, too,
became more generous as the need
Tor combating Communist aggreS-
sion became apparent to all. But
1t still kept a tight financial rein
on the Voice. In 1851 VOA's re.
quested appropriation was cut from
$18.6 to $13.5 million. In 1852 a
request for $25.l million was slashed
to $19.8 million.
About $21.6 million were appro-
prlated for the current fiscal year.
but actual spending may not 10
that high. What the Voice will get
for the fiscal year starting July /
! remains to be seen. ye
d But even some Of its severest
critics see validity In what the Voice
is undertaking. Undisturbed by what
the critics of his inquiry have to
say, Senator. Mccarthy told The
Star:
Il am Of the opinion the Voice
should be continued. But we must
eliminate this tremendous waste"
Senator Mcclellan of Arkansas.
ranking Democratic member of the
Investigations subcommittee, said:
Il have never thought the inter-
national information service and the
Voice should be abolished. But
there should be a thorough over.
hauling"