U.S.A. Bill to Aid Greece and Turkey Before Congress

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1947, Page 5

U.S.A. Bill to Aid Greece and Turkey Before Congress

WASHINGTON, March 18.

The Eill implementing aid to Greece and Turkey was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. It goes considerably further than President Truman indicated in his broadcast on March 12. It authorises the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to advance money to Greece and Turkey pending the appropriation by Congress of the full 400,000,000 dollars 1 . The Greek and Turkish Governments must comply with any order by the United States President designed to safeguard the security of any articles, services or infoi mation granted them. The Bill empowers the President to decide how financial assistance shall be granted —as a loan, credit or grant. It authorises him to detail any United States employees and a limited number of military personnel to help Greece and Turkey in an advisory way. American officials are to have free access to observe whether the assistance is being used effectively in accordance with the undertakings given, and representatives of the American press and radio must be permitted to observe freely and report fully. Turkey has received naval equipment valued at more than £2,500,000 from Britain since the end of the war, including two destroyers, one submarine, and nine minesweepers. Small quantities of Army equipment and 400 aircraft had also been supplied, as well as military, naval, and Air Force advisers for training and supply purposes.