Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-04
Byrd Predicts
Stiff Opposition
On Foreign Aid
BY the Associated Press

dent Eisenhower's new foreign
aid program would run into "a
lot of opposition"
He said more than $40 billion
still is unspent from past foreign
aid appropriations. Before ask
ing another cent of economic aid.
Senator Byrd said in an inter-
view, the administration should
dip into these carryover funds.
The Virginian called for elm
ination of all direct economic aid
and a changeover in this field
to a program of loans. He said
the only exception should be in
technical assistance.
Senator Mansfield. Democrat,
of Montana said in a separate
interview he might seek to in
crease the technical assistance
fund at the expense of direct
economic aid. Mr.. Eisenhower
asked $172 million for technical
aid to underdeveloped nations.
Senator Mansfield, a foreign
relations committeeman, said
the new program did not seem
to reflect what he called the
obvious intent of Congress"
last year to cut down on purely
economic help.
President Gives Details
Mr.. Eisenhower yesterday
gave congressional leaders their
first detailed look at his new
$3.5 billion aid program.
The program, scheduled for
consideration by the Foreign
Relations Committee starting
tomorrow, earmarks $1.4 billioS
for military equipment, such as
planes and tanks, on a world
wide basis.
No breakdown of this overall
figure was given, presumably be-
cause of security reasons. But
the bulk of it almost surely is
tagged for the worlds main cold
war fronts-Western Europe and
Southeast Asia, including Korea,
Formosa, Indo-C China and West
Germany.
Leaving out the direct military
hardware" assistance, the break
down supplied congressional
leaders showed that Mr.. Eisen-
hover is asking 500 million in
military support for Formosa.
$452 million for South Korea and
Salts million for do-China,
including free Wet Nam, Com
bodia and Laos.
This type of aid covers such
items as road and harbor con-
struction and in some cases shoes
and clothing for troops.
Specific Challenge
Senator Byrd specifically chal-
lenged Mr.. Eisenhower's new re-
quest for $165 million in long
range economic aid. described as
development assistance.
THAT should all be in loans"
he said. Senator Byrd indicated.
too. that he felt a large part of
the military support aid could be
handled by loans.
After the White House brief
ing Chairman George of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee said be believes the for
eign aid program will be ap-
proved but that he can't predict
just what form it will be in.
The President, Secretary of
State Dulles and Harold E. Stas-
sen, Foreign Operations Admin
istration director, discussed the
need for the program with the
group of key Senate and House
leaders.
Mr.. Dulles also briefed the
conferees on the world situation,
especially in the Far East.
House Speaker Rayburn and
House Minority leader Martin
agreed there was nothing new"
in this, but disclosed no details.
George Cites Carryover
Senator George said there is
a carryover of So to 50 billion
and added that "a good many
Senators will want to insist that
that be drawn out ahead of new
appropriations"
But the Georgia Senator said
he will not form any conclu-
sions until he goes into the de-
tails carefully at Senate hear
ings.
Senator George also pointed
out that a good part of the
carryover already is committed
for military aid which requires
long-range planning.
Elm, Toune;I - AAaa%