Evening star., 1957-08-18
Best for the Money

The President told the reporters
that foreign aid. begun 10 years
ago by Democratic President
Harry s. Truman's administration,
is the cheapest money the United
States spends for security. Unless
this country holsters the economic
and military strength Of some free
world nations. he said, it win have
to spend much larger amounts for
its own defense. He declared he
would hate to guess how much
more.
Mr.. Eisenhower pointed out that
no pressure group. no lobby, exists
to work for mutual security. He
explained that he, as the Presi-
dent, was irnpelled to speak up
for the program because Of his
responsibility TO plead the cause
OF all the American people. And
he added that If Congress did not
provide the money needed, it
might be necessary to call q
special session late this fall. But
before disrnissing the reporters.
the President insisted he was not
issuing q threat to Congress. A
good many lawmakers thought
otherwise.
No sooner had Mr.. Eisenhower's
plea gone the rounds than a
House subcommittee angrily re-
buffed him. It recommended the
enactment Of q bill providing q
total Of only $2.5 billion, or $500
million less than the President
demanded.
Mr.. Eisenhower Is not accus-
toned to defeats, either on battle
fields or in politics. He came
rushing back. On Thursday he
issued q statement expressing
grave concern over the subcom-
mittee action. National interests
were involved. he said. And he
voiced sincere hope that Congress
would restore the cuts proposed.
These were the reasons stated:
. A new $3.50 million cut in mill
tary assistance was unjustified.
1t would seriously delay moderni-
zation Of free world forces at a
time when Communist forces are
improving steadily.
A SIS million cut from defense
support almost certainly would
compel dangerous reductions IN
the size and effectiveness Of forces
now maintained by free nations
bordering on Communist countries.
1t also would jeopardize the econ
omy Of those nations.
. The $500 million cut in develop
ment loan funds would prevent
the realization Of this program.
. The $40 million cut in technical
assistance would make It dificult
for the United States to assist
newly independent nations which
have turned to US for help in
helping themselves.
. The $125 million cut in the
Presidents special assistance fund
would seriously affect such pro-
grams as the worldwide campaign
to eradicate malaria and aid for
Hungarian refugees; 1t would
seriously reduce the money needed
to meet emergencies which cannot
be foreseen, but which inevitably
crop UP.
This second White House ap-
peal in two days fell on deaf
ears, too. The 50-member House
Appropriations Committee barged
ahead, accepting the cuts pro-
posed by the subcommittee. The
bill then went to the floor for
action. And the House, systenn-
atically rejecting amendments to
restore the cuts, voted 252 TO 100
almost exactly 2 to Ito pass 1t
as presented. The action was
clearly a major setback for the
President.
On Friday, Mr.. Eisenhower in
vited Senate Republican Leader
Knowland to breakfast at the
White House. There they laid
plans for q final try. The plan
was an appeal TO the Senate to
reverse the House. Mr.. Know
land acknowledged there was no
hope for full restoration. But
he saw the chance for q Sub
stantial" sum to be put back. He
was counting not alone upon loyal
Republicans but also upon some
Democrats. such as Senator Hum
phrey Of Minnesota, who thought