Mr. Truman Seeks Huge Sum For U.S. Armaments

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 December 1950, Page 5

Mr. Truman Seeks Huge Sum For U.S. Armaments

WASHINGTON, Dee. 2 (Recd. 7 [’.’.’J —President Truman will ask Congress for about 18,000,000,000 dollars to speed rearmament and atomic weapon production, informed sources said today. Congressmen, alarmed by the Chinese intervention in Korea and the threat of further aggression elsewhere, indicated quick approval of any amount requested. The accelerated defence programme undoubtedly will be followed by higher taxes, stricter economic controls and a lightening of the draft law to provide more manpower for the armed forces. The President recommended to Congress an additional appropriation for the Defence Department of about 16,800,000,000 dollars. He said these • funds were needed to support the United States’ part in United Nations military action in Korea, and to increase the size and readiness of the armed forces “should action become necessary in other parts of the world.’’ The President also recommended a supplementary appropriation of 1,050.000,000 dollars for the Atomic Energy Commission. He said these funds would enable the commission to enlarge its production capacity substantially. The new facilities would provide a larger capacity “for the production of fissionable materials, and for the fabrication of such materials into atom weapons.”

Informed quarters said tonight that the United States Atomic Energy Commission would build a major new atomic production centre with some of the funds Mr Truman soug’r. The commission would spend the rest or the money appropriated for atomic purposes to enlarge the existing facilities.