Statement Concerning East-West Trade and Wherry Amendment to Supplemental Appropriations Bill

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9/20/50 In Gary, corrected by Hiffman. Statement Concerning East-Fest Trade and Therry Amendment to Supplementel Appropristions Bill 1. The Wherry Amendment adopted by the Senste has a laudable purpose with which no one esn disagree. The Wherry Amendment as modified, however, does not accomplish this purpose, and may, in fact, bring about a result exactly the opposite to that intended. No one can possibly object to all sensible means to prevent the arming of Russis, but, on the other hand, nobody wishes to destroy trade in nonstrategie itema which is helping rebuild the economic strength economic strength to of Western Europe. This is the foundation is being upon which its militery security xxxxxxx built. The important objective to bear in mind is that we must increase the strength of the West relative to that of the East, and this involves minimizing exports of strategie items to the East and increasing imports by Western Europe from the Soviet bloe of all items of strategic and economic importance. 2. It is clear from the debate in the Senate that the Senate thought that this amendment gave discretion to the Secretary of Defense. For instance, on September 14, on page 15054 of the Congressional Record, Senator Corden, in explaining the modified amendment which was adopted, stated, are going to have to repose in someone who is competent and qualified the power to exercise judgment and discretion." The amendment, however, makes the Secretary of Defense a mere ministeriel officer who is "directed" to certify a list of "articles or commodities which may be used in the manufacture of arms, armaments, or militery materiel." There is no diseretion about this list -- if the article or commodity may be used in menufacturing not only tanks, guns