United States House Passes Bill Extending Marshall Aid To Europe Until Year 1950

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 April 1949, Page 5

United States House Passes Bill Extending Marshall Aid To Europe Until Year 1950

Both Chambers Must Now Agree On Exact Sum To Be Provided

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Ree. 7.15 pm).—The House today passed a Bill approving 5,380,000,000 dollar expenditure on the extension of Marshall Aid to Europe til! June, 1950. The Senate already has passed a Bill approving the expenditure of 5,580,000,000d01. on Marshall Aid and the two Chambers must now reach a compromise on the exact sum to be provided.

The House made no change in the ligures recommended by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Voting was 354 for the Bib and 48 against. The House also authorised an additional 273,300.000 dollars fund to guarantee private American investment under the Economic Co-operation Administration. The Senate version of the Bill lacks this provision. The House rejected two attempts to make substantial cuts in the Bill and One to authorise funds for only the next three months of Marshall Plan. There was a vehement debate on the amendments, with a score of representatives clamouring to speak at once.

l Representative Leon Gavin claimed } American dollars were merely aiding Socialism in Britain. He said Britain planned to spend 7,600,000,000 dollars I in expanding her oil industry. “Unless the present aid to Britain .3 cut it will enable her to invacfo our oil - markets,” he said Representative George Smathers det fended Britain’s share of the aid - funds. He said Britain was the key f of the whole programme. Her requests for next year's aid were 25 per cent, a less than last year and her funds 1 should not be cut farther. “When ? American people look at Britain’s aus- . terity programme they wonder how i she can carry on. It would be terrible - to cut Britain any more. Where are ] t we going to cut her funds and let her jlive?”