The Green caldron - University Library

March, 1958
MONEY
America's Staunchest Ally
David Abrahamson
Rhetoric lOl, Final Theme
IS THE STAUNCHEST ALLY THAT AMERICA
possesses. If proof of this fact is needed, one has only to look at the
proposed governmental budget for the fiscal year of 1958. Approxi-
mately four billion dollars are to be used in various forms of foreign aid.
Although supposedly intended for economic and military improvement, the
purpose of this money is to help keep some of our "staunch" allies on our side
of the iron curtain. From foreign countries there is a continual demand for
American aid, with the threat of turning to Russia if the United States refuses
to supply more money. It is the generosity of the government in Washington,
not the high ideals of freedom, that keeps the "free world" united. This gener-
osity is not always called for.
Many of our allies show little appreciation and still less need of American
aid. The British, who are quick to comment on reduced aid, reduced their
own income taxes while receiving American tax dollars. In France, where the
Communists are one of the major political parties, American tax money is
quickly squandered while millions of Frenchmen dodge the tax collector every
year. These examples would tend to make one wonder why we continue giving
money to our allies.
The examples of how the money is actually spent would make one wonder
why we ever took the trouble to start the aid program. In Great Britain over
180 million dollars' worth of machinery from the United States was stored in
British government warehouses, with the United States agreeing to pay the
British government warehouse charges. Enough linseed oil was purchased in
Germany to last the United States Army for eighty-four years, because a time
limit had been placed on an amount of money to be spent in foreign countries
and no other way could be thought of for spending it. Gross neglect in the
supervision of profits has led to the loss of thousands of dollars in the form of
excess profits made by foreign companies. It is undoubtedly time to review our
position on foreign aid.
If a large-scale foreign aid program is to be undertaken, its supervision
needs to be greatly improved over that of previous programs. Better supervision
will lead to an improved return on our foreign aid expenditures. The government
should especially check to see if aid is needed before it is granted. In some
previous cases, military weapons were sent to countries that were unable to
supply enough men to use the weapons. Beyond these steps, a new look at our
relations with our allies should be taken.
The idea which some of our leaders seem to hold, that we must supply large
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