Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-23
BY GARNET d. HORNER
star Staff Writer

an acceptable Foreign AID Dill.
The President was represent
ed as feeling that he would be
handicapped in efforts TO
reduce tensions with the Soviet
Union unless Congress left him
discretion on the issue Of
wheat sales to the Soviet bloc.
The President worked most
of yesterday on matters per-
tanning to the foreign aid bill.
White House Press Secretary
Pierre Salinger said House
Democratic leaders spent most
Of the day at the White House,
comforting with the President
and telephoning Democratic
House members around the
country in an effort to round
up votes on the critical issue
today.
! Mr.. johnson also had a
preliminary discussion yester-
day with Secretary of State
Rusk and McGeorge Bundy,
special assistant to the Presi-
dent for national security af-
fairs, on foreign polio and Sc
cuyrit asects Of ypthe state
Of -theUnion message he will
deliver January 8.
He scheduled another meeting
with Mr.. Rusk and Mr.. Bundy
for further work on the message
( today.
. The President also arranged
to meet this afternoon with Gen
Maxwell d. Taylor, Chairman
Of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff. to
hear a report on Gen. Taylor's
recent visit to India and Pakis-
tan.
Mr.. Salinger said the Presi-
dent met three times yesterday
with Secretary Rusk. One Of
those sessions concerned plan
ming for conferences with West
German Chancellor Ludwig Err
hard, scheduled for Mr.. john
sons Texas ranch next Satur-
day and Sunday.
A White House spokesman
said the President sees two CEN
trail points in the discussions
with Mr.. Erhard. They involve:
/. East-West relations, in
Guiding any possible further
steps toward easing of ten
sions in Central Europe and
Strengthening Of peace.
2. Development, improvement
and strengthening of the At
lantic partnership, particularly
in the economic field, involving
United States relations with the
Common Market.
The danger Of damaging
prospects for improvement of
the Vests relations with Russia
is behind the Presidents deter
mined drive for congressional
passage Of a foreign aid bill
leaving him discretion on Gov
ernment guarantees Of credit
for wheat sales to the Soviet
Union and other Eastern Euro
pean Communist nations.
A White House spokesman
said the President feels Soviet
officials are watching to see
whether. under a new Presi-
dent, the United States is going
to change its policy Of seeking
to reduce the dangers Of war
and to strengthen peace.
Action regarding the wheat
sales, a spokesman said, GER
tainly would play a role in
future Russian policy.
He pointed out that the
Soviet Union is now in the
process Of making important
decisions concerning the allo-
cation Of its resources and the
handling Of its quarrel with
Red China.
| A compromise proposal on
the wheat sale issue, up for
action in the House, wouldi
permit rt-Import bank
guarantees of credit on wheat
sales to Soviet bloc nations If
the President found such ac-
: ton was in the national in
tereSt and so reported to
Congress.
A White House spokesman
said the administration feels
that selling wheat to Russo
would be in the national in
terest because it would bring
in needed gold and foreign
exchange, redu ce this counary':
expensive wheat SURPLUS, save
storage charges and interest
for American taxpayers and
benefit American farmers ano
wheat traders.
Ell pointed out that the
United States never has hao
a policy of refusing to sci
non-strategic goods to Soviet
bloc countries.
AS a corollary to such sales
he said, normal financing ia.
cilities should be available Il
United States exporters, al
they are to their competitors
abroad.
While accepting the Senate,
House conference compromisl