217. Editorial Note
Participants at the April 22 legislative leadership meeting discussed a proposal to separate military assistance legislation from economic assistance bills:
“Mutual Security—After Rep. Chiperfield’s comment on the likelihood of a Committee reduction in the authorization of approximately $400 million, and Rep. Vorys’ statement of the question over separate economic and military assistance bills or a single bill, Mr. Dillon said that the Department’s attitude on the latter was to be neutral and willing to accept whatever the Committee decides. He emphasized, however, that the money request had been drawn very tightly and that a reduction of $100 million, or perhaps $200 million at the outside, would be the most the program could stand. In further discussion several Leaders thought a single bill most desirable since it thus precluded the need for fighting the battle on two occasions instead of one, and also allowed the strong points of the economic program to aid passage of the military program and vice versa. Speaker Martin suggested that the Department furnish statistics on domestic benefits that result from the program.
“The President stated firmly his belief that it was more important to put adequate funds into this program than to keep searching for new ways to put more money into the defense complex.” (Notes on Legislative Leadership Meeting; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries)