Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-02


of Russia.
Money and materials beg,
meaning gifts. and loans. Eacl
concept Of foreign aid" became
fixed in many American minds
a huilt-in idea. Proponents sale
the great outlay was vital to the
interests of the United States
not q "giveaway."
A decade has passed since this
began.
Today. the total American
outlay depends on which set of
books you examine. 1t is at least
between $50 and $50 billion.
And the end is not in sight.
President Eisenhower has
asked Congress for $4,400. 000. 600
to continue the foreign aid
programs.
But today, for various reasons.
many people are seriously ques-
tioning the foreign aid program.
Congressman are getting thou
sands of letters asking. in effect.
what did we get for all that
money When does this thing
stop?"
BY contrast, surveys taken
recently by researchers at the
University of Chicago showed a
majority of people questioned
approve the foreign aid pro-
grams. pretty much as they
stand.
In any case. Congress is now
casting up a balance sheet, re-
viewing the record. trying to
evaluate the results of a spec
tacular 10 years.
Let's trace the record in out
line.
Broadly speaking, the en-
phasis began in Western Europe,
shifted to the Far East, and now
to the Middle East and Africa.
In form, it began primarily as
economic aid and changed to
military help. The steps
Past Outlays
First. in March. l947, Greece
and Turkey receive $500 million.
Armed Communists are looking
down their threats.
Then the Marshall Plan. In
1913. the outlay is $500. 000. 900,
1t hits a peak in the next year,
$6.l00.000.000
During this period. the en-
phasis is on European recovery.
On the theory that poverty
breeds communism" the United
States effort is to reconstruct a
shattered economy. That means
rebuilding roads and communica-
tons. providing machinery and
tools. printing the pump"
1950-Fire in the sky dramat-
ically changes the character of
the American programs.
War flares in Korea. Then in
Indo-China. Meanwhile, the
Reds have overrun China; their
enemies fall back to the Island
of Formosa. Most important. an
atomic blast in Siberia warns
that the secrets of nuclear energy
no longer belong to the United
States alone.
Immediately, military aid
takes precedence-guns, tanks,
airplanes. "hardware"-for allies
and hoped-for allies.
1953-Soviet Russia, still
warning and scoffing at the
United States program, suddenly
steps out with one Of its own.
1t offers both military and eco
nomic aid. The drive appears to
be aimed primarily at India and
the Middle East.
The Red efforts is compare
lively small-about 81. SOC. 900, 900
total toward the end OF 1856
mainly in 30-year loans at 2la
per cent, with technicians known
to be working in IA countries.
But it is gaining momentum.
analysts report.
Today. over half the United
States outlay goes for military
aid" About third is allocated
to a hazy category called de
Tense support" which is both
economic and military. The rest
is given to economic and techni-
CAL assistance.
Six nations-Korea, Formosa,
Vietnam. Pakistan, Turkey. and
Iran - are getting two-thirds OF
the foreign aid funds.
All but Formosa actually touch
Communist territory.
That's the record. Was the
HiOIley wen spent?
Who Can Say?
Nobody will ever know whether
Western Europe would have
gone Communist" but for
American aid. Even through re-
covering more slowly, the peo-
pie there might have chosen not
to join the Reds. Who can say?
Whatever the answer, the rec
ord is clear. Western Europe to-
day is in alliance against them
The NATO nations today pay IS
per cent of their defense costs.