AMERICAN AID

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26415, 20 March 1947, Page 7

AMERICAN AID

GREECE AND TURKEY WIDE POWERS FOR PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, Mar. 18. The Bill implementing aid to Greece and Turkey, introduced in the House of Representatives to-day, goes considerably further than President Truman indicated in his broadcast on March 12. It is believed there is now a better chance of the United States aiding those countries before March 31, when Britain’s financial commitments in Greece end. The Bill authorised the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to advance 100,000,000 dollars to Greece and Turkey, pending appropriation by Congress of the full 4(j0,000,000 dollars. The Bill specifically provides that 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 information granted them.. The Bill empowers the president to decide how financial assistance shall be granted—as 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 capacity. It also provides that United States Government officials must have free access to observe whether the assistance is being used effectively and in accordance with the undertakings, - and representatives of the American uress and radio must be permitted to observe freely and report fully on the use of such assistance.