AID TO GREECE AND TURKEY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25179, 9 May 1947, Page 7

AID TO GREECE AND TURKEY

• House Debate On Bill Nears End

OPPONENTS FIGHTING LOSING BATTLE?

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) - J (Rec. 9 30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May'7. The opponents of the Greek and Turkish Aid Bill to&ay fought what became clear was a losing battle as the general debate on the measure _in the United States House of > Representatives moved into its final hours. f ' Without any effective organisation, the insurgent Republicans from the traditionally isolationist Mid-western states —spent its energy in charges that it is being gagged F,ld that the Truman doctrine was a ‘‘sinister conspiracy to draw the United States into opear waixare on the nide of every reactionary government in the Both the Republican and Democratic leaders are pledged to endorse the aid programme; but the,debase has disclosed that reservations are widely held, both among/ the leaders and the rank and file, on any further impleaientgtfon of President Truman’s policy. f Mr George Bender (Republican, Ohio),/'a leading opponent of the bill, cited reports from Britain that the existing American credit was being too rapidly exhausted. He added: “The naked and cruel fact is that the British Empire is on the rocks and Congress before the year is but will be called upon to lend Britain an additional 4,000,000,000 to 5,000,000,000 dollars. That is what the Truman doctrine means.” The Speaker, Mr Joseph told the House that the leadership was determined to wind up the debate to-night so that the amendments could be dealt with to-morrow. The passage of the bill, which' has already been approved by the Senate, is now expected on Friday.