Fight Over U.S. Peacetime Conscription Bill

Chronicle (Levin), 19 June 1948, Page 5

Fight Over U.S. Peacetime Conscription Bill

Received Friday, 7.10 p.m. WASHINGTON, June 17. An appeal to the House of Eepresentatives to pass the United States Peacetime (,'onscritpion Bill was made by the Secretary of Btate (Mr. George Aiarshall) tonight. He warned Congressmen attempting to kill the Bill: "It is (juite clear that any recessions from our present Jine of aetion for the security of the United States would be niost unfortunate and might lead to what we are trying so hard to avoid — war." The warning was eontained in a statement read to the Ilouse during the debate which is threatening to talk down entirely the eall-up powers which President Truman is seeking. The enemies of the Bill asserted that, Mr. Alarshall earlier in the day had told a private meeting of the House Foreign Aft'airs Conimittee that there 'was no danger of war. His statement was in replv to that allegation. The anti-conscription elemeut has alroadv achieyed two notable vietories by cutting from two years to one year the period of service which men from 19 to 25 would be cailed on to undergo, and by forcing through another amendment which would postpone the first call-up at least .until February 1949 — l .long after election day in November. The Senate has already voletl in favour of a two-vears' conscription measure which would come into inimediale eireet. The Senate has approved of the (5,9 15,(57(5,052 dollars spending programme for the Anny, Air Force and rolated defence agencies. This is~a~record anionnt for peacetime. It is, however, 405,727,052 dollars more tlian that approved by the House to which the Bill now returns.