Evening star., 1959-11-23

States and the Free World, "
the report added:
"A continuance of current
trends toward reduction in ap-
preparations for the Military
Assistance Program will in
evitably result in a major de-
terioration of military strength
in forward areas and a clearly
apparent withdrawal of effec-
tive support from many of our
allies. This may well require
basic changes in our present
military strategy and our al
lance system.
Since the Draper report,
nothing has happened to
change the picture for the bet
ter. Or the sober opinion of
many experts that the current
suggested appropriation for
military assistance Of S1.3 bill
lion is already dangerously low.
Fear Reverse Effect
To counterbalance the in
creasing prosperity of the Eu-
ropean allies is the political
problem brought about by the
new era of relaxation in inter
national tension. At such a
time many observers feel it is
unrealistic to ask the allies to
increase their own defense
burdens, especially when the
United States is reducing its
own.
A reduction of American mill
tary aid, instead of making up
the difference, would result in
an almost overwhelming i'm
pulse to scale down national ex-
penditures in proportion to any
American cut. And the total
reduction on Western military
strength could be many times
the size of the American saving
Apart from the probable eff
feet on the allies, diplomats
are opposed to any move at
the beginning of a period of
negotiation with Russia which
would weaken the Western bar
gaining position. However un-
popular it may be these days
to talk about bargaining from
a position of strength" the
defensive military apparatus oi
NATO is still considered one
Of the stronger cards in the
Western hand.
Troop Cut Unpopular
In any case, it is pointed out
the dollar shortage would not
be helped substantially by cut.
ting in this area. The great
majority Of military assistance
dollars are spent in the United
States for American equipment
The cost of other programs
such as the purchase of mill.
tary equipment for NATC
forces in Europe-would have
to be absorbed at greater ex-
pense in the domestic Ameri-
can program.
A far greater saving could
be made by reducing the size
Of the American garrison over
seas. The total cost runs to
about S3.4 billion a year, OF
which 81 billion goes to Europe
Such a solution, however, which
would be universally interpret
ed as a pullout by the United
States, is favored by no re-
Sponsible public figure in any
NATO country.
Even the possibility of cut
ting down on some Of the
"frillS" in the overseas pro-
gram. such as purchases of for
eign-made goods by the mill
tary post-exchange system OF
the cost of maintaining de-
pendents of military personnel
abroad. is considered no reaI
answer to the problem. The
cost of the first is held to be
negligible. while the morale
problem that would result from
a hint that the dependents
might be sent home is enough
to give pause to the most ded.
icated economizer.
In snort, there is a fervent
hope that the trade e-balancer.
will decide in the end to lool
elsewhere for a solution t.
their problem. 1t is felt thar
the dollar shortage should b.
corrected by increasing the vol.
ume of Am erican exports
rather than by arbitrarily cut.
ting down on overseas expenses
which remain-at least in tn,
opinion Of the men who ad,