Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-24
Military Aid
Backing Asked
ByPresident
Calls on Congress
For Continuance Of
Annual Authority
BY GARRETT ID. HORNER
star star Writer

Star STAN Writer
President Eisenhower urged
Congress today to provide the
same continuing authority for
military aid to foreign coun-
tries as 1t does for supporting
Americas own military forces.
He also urged that hereafter
the yearly appropriations for
military aid be included as a
separate item in the Defense
Department budget, instead Of
among funds appropriated d.
rectly to the President.
Mr.. Eisenhower's recommen-
dations to Congress were in line
with q 12-point plan for i'm
proving administration Of the
military assistance program
submitted to him by q special
committee. The committee,
headed by former Undersecre-
tary Of the Army William H.
Draper, jr.. emphasized the
need for a long-term approach
in planning military aid to
meet the long-term Communist
threat.
I'VE can't fight q 100-years
war-which I suppose this is
by q year-to-year approach"
Mr.. Draper said in explaining
the com ittee recommen-
dationS.
Letters to Nixon, Rayburn
Mr.. Eisenhower transmitted
the report from the Draper
committee with his approval to
Congress in letters to Vice Pres
ident Nixon and House Speaker
Rayburn.
He said most Of the recon-
mendations could be carried out
by administrative actions with
in the Executive branch and
without additional legislation.
The President suggested leg
islative action, however. to clar-
ify responsibilities Of the State
and Defense Departments in
administration of the military
assistance program as recon-
mended by the Draper COM
mittee.
Involved were two basic con-
cents urged by the committee:
/. Strengthening Of the State
Departments position on the
policy level Of military assist
ance planning to make sure
it stays in line with foreign
policy.
2. Giving the Defense De-
partment clear-cut RESPONSE
bility for programming and
carrying out military assist
ance within the framework Of
policy guidance laid down in
the National Security Council
and by the State Department.
1t has been the theory all
along that the State Depart
ment would furnish policy
guidance for military aid to
be carried out by the Defense
Department.
Cities Differences
But the Draper committee
reported:
THE spirit Of these basic
concepts has often been miss
ing. The departments Of State
and Defense have tended to
exercise their respective re-
sponSibilities at the working
level in a contentious rather
than a full cooperative man
ner an dwithout adequate ex-
change of information"
Mr.. Draper explained that
the committees recommended
tons would give the State De-
partment a voice in long-range
military aid planning at an
earlier stage and reduce its
voice on such details as what
types Of airplanes should be
shipped to a certain country.
Military aid planning now is
limited to a year-to-year basis
because it depends on a specific
authorization bill by Congress
each year. as well as annual
appropriations. A continuing
authorization would enable the
Defense Department to plan
procurement of military aid
items along with equipment for
American forces.
The committee urged that
military assistance be planned
for a period Of at least three
years ahead now, and ulti-