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Praise for Prudence. There was only one other problem—a G.O.P. attempt, prompted by the India-Pakistan hostilities, to cut off aid to any country in armed conflict with another U.S.-aided nation. Administration forces moved quickly to nip off the threat. Mahon took the floor, pointed out that under such a stricture, the U.S. could not send aid to India if it was invaded by Red China while fighting Pakistan. Warned Mahon: "It would be a horrendous thing for this Government to tie its hands under these circumstances." House Republican leaders, who had obviously overlooked such an eventuality, canceled plans to sponsor an amendment—though Ohio Republican Frank Bow offered a maverick restriction of his own, only to have it shouted down along with a proposed dollar slash that was part of the same motion.
Finally the appropriations bill sailed through on a roll-call vote, 239 to 143, and went to the Senate. Lyndon Johnson, commending the House for "prudence and promptness," could not resist pointing out that the bill as passed represents "the smallest reduction ever made below the Administration's original request."