Evening star., 1961-08-03
Kennedy Signs
Bill 10 Bolster
Armed Forces
By ]. A. O'LEARY
Star staff Writer

Star StaII writer
President Kennedy today
signed the bill authorizing
nearly 81 billion for more mis-
sileS, aircraft and ships as part
of the SAT billion defense budget
now pending in the Senate. \
The Senate hopes to pass this
evening the big money bill,
which Senator Robertson, Dem
ocrat of Virginia, said is de-
signed to strengthen both, con-
ventional and nuclear forces of
the United States.
Opening the debate on the
measure today. Senator Robert
son said 1t will show aggressors
that we are prepared to nego-
ttiate through strength and if
need be to call upon that
strength in time of crisis"
Backed by SaltOnstalI
Senator Saltonstall Of Massa-
chusetts, ranking Republican
on the Armed Services Com
mittee. Joined in urging prompt
passage.
Several attempts to modify
the bill this afternoon are ex-
Ipected to fail.
Senator Proxmire, Democrat
Of Wisconsin. will try to elimi-
nate the $525 million the Sen
ate Appropriations Committee
approved for building more
heavy bombers, but his amend
ment was expected to fail.
An effort also may develop
to reduce or eliminate the
SPOTS million added to the bill
at the administrations request
to expand civil defense facili-
ties. including the marking of
spaces in existing buildings as
fallout shelters.
Seeks Shelter Changes
Senator Stephen Young,
Democrat of Ohio, has indi-
Gated opposition to the shelter
program and said he was work.
ing on amendments.
Passage of the defense bill
will complete Senate action on
the several steps President
Kennedy requested last week
to build up conventional forces
to meet any emergency in Ber-
lin or at other trouble spots.
The Senate version of the
defense bill is SAL billion
higher than the House ap-
proved last month. Most of the
increase consists of the $3.4
billion of new money the Presi-
dent requested to increase the
number of men in uniform and
provide them with all necessary
weapons.
See Reliance on BOmbers
But the Senate committee
went beyond the administra-
tion's wishes in adding the $525
million for heavy bombers,
even though the Defense De-
partment indicated this money
would not be spent if appro-
priated.
The Senators disregarded the
Pentagon's views in the belief
that chief reliance must con-
tinue to be placed on manned
bombers until the guided mis-
Sile program has made greater
progress.
In a letter to Senator Prox-
mire yesterday Defense Secre-
tary Mcnamara again de-
clared the additional bomber
money unnecessary at this
time.
Aid Battle Looms
II the defense bill Is disposed
of today the Senat9 will plunge
into the major battle of the
session tomorrow over the for
eign aid bill, which includes
another $1.8 billion for military
aid for allies.
The big fight in the foreign
aid bill, however, is over Presi-
dent Kennedy's request for au-
thority to have the Treasury
borrow $8.8 billion over the
next five years for economic
loans to under developed
countries.
Senator Harry F. Byrd, Dem
ocrat of Virginia, is leading a
drive to require annual appro-
priations to finance the loans,
contending the borrc wing au-
thority would deprive Congress
of control over the purse
strings.
A close vote is expected
sometime next week on the
Byrd amendment. But the fact
that Democratic leaders were
spurning all talk of compro-
mise today led observers to be-
lieve they think they have a
margin for the Presidents plan.
Senate Democratic Leader
Mansfield cautiously estimated,
however, that the fight is nip
and tuck"
Chairman Fulbright of the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee is ready to make the
opening speech in defense of
the Presidents long range
plan.