STOP-GAP PROGRAMME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 5

STOP-GAP PROGRAMME

PROMPT APPROVAL SOUGHT REJECTION MAY LEAD TO WAR WASHINGTON, Nov. 24. Senator Vandenberg, the leading Republican foreign affairs authority, warned the Senate to-day that Congressional rejection of the 597,000,000dollar stop-gap programme to aid France, Italy and Austria may result in “ a war which otherwise need never occur, and which should never be allowed to occur.” He urged the Senate to approve of the programme promptly, and accused Russia of a “fantastic libel” against the United States and of publishing the “ most viciously unfair propaganda which ever belaboured the ears of the world.” Senator Vandenberg criticised President Truman for combining his radical anti-inflation proposals with the interim aid plan, but insisted that neither this fact, nor any fear of committing themselves to the Marshall Plan itself, should deter senators from casting an affirmative vote. “ Senators can support this Bill without any sort of commitment to any other relief measures which may subsequent]} confront them,” he said. He also expressed regret that the Bill did not include interim aid for China, but pointed out that the State Department would shortly submit a separate plan for that nation. “ The stability of Germany and the Far East is indispensable to a sound, free world economy—and time is running out,” he stated. The Interim Aid Bill, whic Senator Vandenberg is urging Congress to accept, provides 42,000,000 dollars for Austria, 227,000,000 dollars for Italy, and 328,000,000 dollars for France. It has the unanimous approval of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of which Senator Vandenberg is chairman.