The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1956-02-23
THIS WEEK
IN
WASHINGTON
REP. JOHN f. HENDERSON
What Price Foreign Aid

IilS NoSotioii Va SSii
tinued foreign aid will dominate
the Congressional scene as the
annual ritual of providing ap-
preparations approaches. The
problem arises of how much aid
| and for what.
Roughly, the aid program falls
into two categories. The first is
military assistance to bolster
defenses abroad against Com
munist aggression. The second is
technical assistance to strengthen
foreign nations against Com
munist penetration.
The full price we nave paid
for military assistance IS difficult
to determine since it is composed
of a mass of budgetary quota
tons and official secrecy die
tated by security requirements.
However, the volume of our
non military grants and credits
is clear. From July l, l945 to
September 80, 1855 these grants
and credits have totalled
37,O1l 100000. This staggering
figure accounts for a sizeable
fraction of the Nations total
national debt.
The principal recipients Of this
aid were the United Kingdom
($6.9 billion), France ($5.5 bill
lion), Germany (S3.87 billion),
Italy ($2.7 billiom, and Japan
($2.48 billion).
Last year, | voted against the
aid bin presented to the Con-
F, gress. This year, it seems to me
that increased emphasis must be
placed on the advisability Of con-
tinuing this vast program.
I find it astounding that some
so-called free nations seem will
ling to dicker with the Russians
in view of the Communists con-
sistent record of broken promises
and subversion wherever one
Red ruble is spent. The new
Russian aid program is held up
| to us as justification for our
| continuation Of past assistance.
Called by its proper term, this
is kind of new international
blackmail. Any foreign govern
ment which is a party to it would
seem to be demonstrating a foggy
if not irresponsible appreciation
of the dangerous consequences
of its action. These traps being
laid by the Russians are so
obvious that any nation abroad
which is tempted by them will
be proceeding along path of
calculated destruction.
Social Security
Within recent weeks, | have
received many letters concerning
changes in the Social Security
4 law A large proportion have in
quired about the status of any
Legislation that might be pend
ing.
! A bill seeking to accomplish
such changes as lowering the
eligible age at which women and
disabled persons might receive
benefits was passed by the House
of Representatives last year
Although | supported the pur-
poses of the bill, believed that
it had been given inadequate
study in the House Ways and
Means Committee and in the
general debate which followed
This bill was referred to the
Senate where it is now being
studied in the Senate Finance
Committee. 1t is thought likely
that this Committee will finish
its deliberations within the mex
seseral weeks and the full Sen
ate Will have an opportunity tC
consider the measure. LegiSla
tive action is thought probable
before this session of Congress
ends its work, although the eXac
provisions Of the Senate bill vii
not be known for several week
to come.
Conscience
Government in Washington
often reflects both the strength
and weaknesses Of the peopl
who compose our country. 1t j
sometimes amusing to learn hov
these weaknesses become insti
tutionaliZed.
1t was called to my attention
last week that the Treasury De
partment maintains ''consci
ence fund" composed of dona
tions by men and women VIII
have evaded paying taxes. TIL
fund is almost as old as the Re
public, having been established
in 1911. Its separate contribu
tions, ranging from two cents t
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