Evening star., 1953-01-02
A Matter of Common Sense

Although they have shipped goods OF 'prl-
mary strategic significance" to Russia and other
countries behind the Iron Curtain, President
Truman has made a common-sense decision in
exempting Britain, France and Italy from the
provisions of the Battle Act.
Under this act, which became fully effective
on January "a, 1852. our Government is required
to end all military, economic and financial as
sistance to any nation that knowingly permits
the export of arms, atomic materials or indus
trial and similar products having strategic
potential for war; But the act also provides that
the President may continue such assistance to
such nation when unusual circumstances in
dicate that the cessation Of aid would clearly
be detrimental to the security of the United
States *ssesze&
I y s AS he has explained in long letter to the
chairmen of the congressional committees di-
rectly concerned, Mr.. Truman has invoked this
exempting clause primarily because the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization would be gravey
endangered If the United States were suddenly
to stop extending military and economic help to
Britain, France and Italy-the three biggest and
most important. European members of the NATO
alliance. Such development, as the President
has said, would undoubtedly be Injurious to our
own national security; hence his decision.
Another important consideration behind Mr..
Truman's action is this: That Britain, France
and Italy, in exporting the goods in question,
have felt obligated to do so because the ship
ments have been called for by commitments
made in formal trade agreements worked out
with Russia and the satellite states months and
even years before the effective date of the Battle
Act, and also before the aggression in Korea.
In exchange, they have received from behind the
Iron Curtain timber, grains and other commodi-
ties essential to the British, French and Italian
I>o%
wise have had to pay for out of their meager
dollar resources.
All told, the disputed shipments forging
machines, pumps, valves, ball bearings indus
trial greases, electronic equipment, chemical
items, and the like-have amounted to only SIS
million in value. OF this sum, the British ex-
ports have constituted 1888 ,818, the French
PAS and the italian $940 900. Clearly enough,
this volume Of trade has not added very greatly
to the Soviet Unions war making power. Further,
as Mr.. Truman has emphasized, the fact should
not be forgotten that these three NATO allies,
apart from their prior commitments have long
been operating effective controls against sending
strategic goods of any kind to the Russian
Empire.
Actually, the President has done nothing
new in exercising his discretionary exempting
authority He has acted similarly in the past in
favor of the Netherlands, Denmark and Italy,
each of which has made relatively minor stra-
tegic shipments to the Soviet world in keeping
with obligations assumed before passage of the
Battle Act. In number of countries, part OF
those obligations still remain to be fulfilled, and
there probably will be additional exemptions,
with every case being decided individually on
its merits as MIR. Truman has said.
The overriding consideration in all of this
is what is best for the security of the United
States Congress, in the Battle Act, has wisely
kept that point in mind by empowering the
President to decide as he has, and he certainly
seems to have made sensible use Of the leeway
thus granted to him.