Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-23
Europe Wants y. S. Loans
But No Political Advice
Requests for Funds to Aid Rehabilitation Many,
but Nations Want No Intervention
in Internal Affairs
By Constantine Brown

ffne broom
Although the Allies must be aware
that without the effective Intervention
of the United States in the war, their
chances of defeating the Axis were
slight, the Intervention of America on
such matters as free elections in the
Russian zone of influence, Romania,
Bulgaria, Hungary and eventually Po-
land and Yugoslavia, is considered by
Moscow as brazen impudence. The little
dictators in the Balkans and in Eastern
Europe, taking the lead from Russia, are
competing with one another in denounc-
ing American reactionaries who question
their true democracy" and venture to
give them lessons in how to run their
elections
Yet all these countries plan to send
delegates to ask for loans without col
lateral or indorsers, repayable at some
time in the future.
Britain already has sent mission to
Washington to negotiate a grant OF
three to six billion dollars without in
terest. The British delegates are frank
about the situation in their country and
ceived Americas first line of defense,
the bastion in the Atlantic" is likely to
collapse and eventually enter the totali-
tartan economic bloc which is steadily
spreading in Europe from east to west.
| The British were preceded by the
| French, who sent Gen. Charles de Gaulle
| for small touch" not exceeding the
paltry sum OF $1,000, 0O0,0 900. For the
first time since he appeared on the po-
litical scene, Gen. de Gaulle attempted
to be friendly to America.
Russia Wants $4,000, 100000
Next in line is the u S. S. r. which ex-
poets loan of about $4,000, 900 ,O0O The
Russians do not want any cash. They
| don't need it. Neither are they in need
! of manufactured consumer goods. The
Russian people have been taught for
the last % years to tighten their belts
| and can do without American luxuries,
such as clothing and shoes, for another
generation or two. But they need ma
chine tools to make Russia into a for
midable flrst-class power. From the
! point of view of territories and prestige,
! she is already the foremost power in
t Europe, where every head of state trem-
bles at the thought of offending, even
by implication, the powerful Premier
Stain
But, industrially. Russia still has a
long way to go. She has seized from
Germany large amount of machinery
and is reported to have exiled to Russia
large number of German engineers
and industrial specialists. Some l2,O00,-
600 Germans are said to have been sent
to Russia. But that is not enough. In
order to put into effect the grandiose
plans of Premier Stain, much more is
necessary and that much more" has to
come from the United States If all the
plans of the Russian leader are to be
fulfilled in his lifetime.
The Moscow government has made It
plain to the leaders in Washington,
through Ambassador w. Averell Harri-
man and other high officials, that it
wants no political strings attached to
the new loan. Washington is being told
that Russia is capable of repaying any
loan advanced to her and looks on such
loan as a purely commercial matter
WAASti dppCdl W tIlG
minded Americans. She is even willing
to pay reasonable rate of interest pro-
vlded all the specifications of the loan
are complied with by this country.
The attitude of Foreign Commissar
Molotov in London is intended to en-
phasize that the U. S. S. R. will not per-
init politics to interfere with her request
for q LARGO lnon Mr i
ant concerning Russia's political aims
throughout the world and, to show that
he considers his country as the foremost
power, has adopted a self -seclusion
which is indicative of his frame of
mind. Whenever Secretary of State
Byrnes wants to discuss some political
matters in private, he goes to see Mr..
Molotov.
Reds See Unrest Here
The Russian government has picture
OF an America in the throes of indus
trial unrest and facing unemployment
for millions of its workers This alone,
the Russians feel, should be compelling
consideration in granting a $4,000, 900 900
loan to country which can do some
tnlng ABOUT 1t.
Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia
and all the other, European countries
will follow as soon as the Russian re-
quest for loan has been decided on.
Their demands range from a paItry
$700,000,000 for Yugoslavia to more than
$1,000 100000 for Poland. All they are
willing to offer as collateral is their flu
ture good will, provided we don't butt
into their domestic affairs and interfere
with the regime now in power.
Whether all these nations will meet
the CLASSY eye of the banker who ia
being asked for money without adequate
guarantees for repayment is another
question The policy trainers of the ad.
ministration seem inclined to give SYM
pathetic consideration to these requests
for loans. Some take the practical
point of view that loans without Sc
curity and interest,"" repayable in an
uncertain and distant future, might be
necessary. Countries such as Britain,
they say, might offer us something
more important than actual cash in
terest. They may greatly contribute to
the sterilization of Europe along demo-
cratic lines. The same thing could be
said about France. Belgium, Holland
and Norway.
Such sterilization may be in the
end translated into greater benefit for
the future of this country than an
! 0Rfy n4rI.