GREAT PROBLEMS FACED

Chronicle (Levin), 30 March 1949, Page 5

GREAT PROBLEMS FACED

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

-U.S. Calmly Confident, Says New Defeuce Chief

Copyright)

Received Tuesday, a.ot) p.m. WASHINGTON, March 29. Mr. • Louis A. Johnson, at nis swearing-in- today as Secretary of defen'ce, deelared that Ameriea wanted peace if humaniy possible with honour ind freedom, but "if there is aggresuon we' are calmly confident we can i Uop it. " ' He succeeded Mr. James ForrestaJ who ' retired. Mr. Johnson gave a pledge that. the Army, Navy and Air Force would be "united as one to stop xggression and back up the nation 's foreign policy." President Truman said the Unlten itates was faced with great problems n both the Eastern and Western hemis pheres, and was trying its best to meel vhem. He said the times were serioutind Mr. Johnson faced a tremendous rask. A- U.S. State Department spokesmau tnnounced today that the Umteu -Itates military aid programme backing •p the North Atlantie Pact would 1h • eady for submission to Congress at the ;ame time as. the Treaty of Ailianee, n'obaoly in A.pril. This constitutes a peeding-up of the original programme o implement the North Atlantufreaty. It is und.e.rstood the speedup is lecessitated by the United States Senate's desire to consider simultaneously the treaty terms and the expediture wherein it is likely to involve United States taxp.ayers. The State Department spokesman said the published estimates of the cost if the arms programme were erroneousl because no finai figure had yet been decided. The Assistant Secretary of State (Mr. Dean Rusk) told reporters that representatives of the North Atlantie Powers who. were due to sign the treaty in Washington on April 4 would study through an international woriong party the establishment of the Council of the North Atlantie Powers provided .-'or in the treaty. Onee the arms cost was estimated, j possibly this week, the way will be. •lear for drafting the Bill for Congress.

l It is expected the Bill will emphasise' the mutual self-help aspeet of the North Atlantie programme and tha't each member, including the United States, will attempt to make- up the military deficiencies of the other. This means in effeet that the majority of the equipment supplies will come from the United States, but Congress is expected to insist on emphasising the "mutual assistance" aspects. The Senate Democfatie leader (Seott Lucas), however, said the Senate would not consider ratifieation of the North Atlantie Pact until domestie legisla tion is disposed of. He added that there was little chance of ratifieation before the summer.