Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-28
House Debate Starts
Today on Disputed
Foreign Aid Bill

House debate opening today on
the bill authorizing So, 470, 208, 900
for foreign aid gave divided Re-
publicans as well as some dis
contented Democrats a chance to
discuss almost every aspect Of
the Eisenhower Administrations
foreign policy.
Leaders Of both parties pre-
dicted passage late tomorrow.
But they conceded that the con-
troversial issue Of foreign mill
tAry and economic assistance
will be the target Of many mem
berS angered or dissatisfied by
recent international develop
mentS.
Some House Republicans also
have served notice they will try
to trim the authorization total.
AS reported out by the House
Foreign Affairs Committee it
was only 81 million below the
amount requested by the White
House. The overall authorize
ton represents q ~ per cent cut
since the 1858 fiscal year. The
bill merely authorizes q ceiling
Of $3,470, 208, 900 for the fiscal
year beginning Thursday. The
money would be provided later
in q separate bill to be reported
out by the House Appropriations
Committee.
Skinny, Democrats Say.
The Democratic position, as
outlined by leaders on the eve OF
the debate, is that the authori-
zation falls short Of needs.
Democrats in general, however.
indicated they would not make
o concerted effort to increase
the authorization at this time.
One Of the major attacks on
the bill is expected to come from
Republican ranks, including sew
eral Republicans on the Foreign
Affairs Committee. A dozen COM
nittee members last week wrote
to President Eisenhower to warn
that the entire foreign-aid pro-
gram must be re-examined" un-
less he repudiates In "unmistak-
ably clear" terms any American
support for a non aggression
treaty that would include the
Communists.
That problem boiled up when
British Prime Minister Churchill
and Foreign Secretary Anthony
Eden came to Washington fol-
lowing Mr.. Eden's speech
suggesting q Far Eastern non
aggression pact.
Other Points at Issue.
But numerous other points are
likely to be thrashed out in de-
bate today and in other hours Of
discussion on amendment pro-
posals tomorrow.
Members, for instance, are at
odds on the bills proposal to ban
deliveries to Italy and France
unless they ratify the European
Defense Community treaty.
House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee members in general justi-
ned the ban and declared it has
been misunderstood and misin-
terpreted. They explained it
would not cut of foreign aid
funds for France or Italy during
the fiscal year beginning July /.
But it would prevent deliveries"
Of equipment and material. au-
thorized for purchase under the
pending bill, unless those coun-
tries ratified the treaty looking
toward establishment of a six
nation defense army in Europe.
they noted.
AS for the practical effect Of
the provision House authorities
said that in any event France
and Italy would continue for
some time-possibly until late
this year-to receive foreign as
Gistance deliveries on the basis
Of funds authorized and appro-
priated in previous fiscal years.
Amendment Modified.
It was recalled that the House
committee last year approved,
and the Congress itself accept
ed, an amendment sponsored
by Representative Richards.
Democrat, of South Carolina, on
that subject.
The Richards amendment orig
inally aimed at banning deliver
les to any of the six nations
specified for the EDO program
unless all six ratified the treaty.
Four nations-all except Italy
and France-have since ratified
1t. In the foreign aid bill to be
debated in the House today the
House committee modified the
Richards amendment to author
lie deliveries only to nations
that have ratified the treaty.
Thus all six of the nations, in
GLIDING France and Italy. have
been receiving equipment and
material financed under author
izations voted by Congress in
prior fiscal year foreign aid bills.
No official estimate was avail
able yesterday as to how long
Q backlog of about 50 billion in
previously authorized OUTLAWS will
continue through the pipeline"
Deliveries of foreign defense ma
terial always are year or more
behind appropriations because OF
time needed for construction and
procurement.
But whether or not the modi-
field Richards amendment even
tually puts a pinch on Italy or
France during the coming fiscal
year, some House membera indi-
Gated they will oppose the
amendment itself. They intend
to object because it tends to tie
strings" on the foreign aid recip-
tents, II not to threaten" them.
This view repeatedly was ex-