Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-23

Bank in the Strand in London and asked
to see the manager, as the vice presi-
dents are called in England.
He was ushered into the executives
cubbyhole and, after the usual amenities,
the officer asked if he could have an
overdraft. The manager of the bank
asked how much would be needed. The
young man thought for a few seconds
and said cheerfully, How much have
you got?"
A similar situation is by way OF aris-
ing in Washington at this time. A long
string of visitors from abroad is ex-
pected to follow the British guests who
are here now to arrange for a grant
without collateral, interest or co-makers.
Like the British, all will tell us that they
want an indefinite number of billions Of
will bear.
But while many high administration
officials are resigned to the idea that the
American taxpayer will have to foot
some more heavy bills in the future,
there is an intense annoyance among
some of those who must pass on these
new requests.
1t is customary for an individual who
wants to make touch" and can pro-
vide neither collateral nor an indorser
to treat his favorite banker with the
utmost courtesy. At times this courtesy
when the borrower is extremely hard
pressed-actually approaches humility
But what appears to be the rule among
individuals does not seem to apply to
nations.
Unrecognized Santa Claus.
The requests for loans which are al
ready on file at the State and Treasury
Department, do not abound in courtesy.
There seems to be widespread feeling
among many of our Allies that asking
favors of the United States does not
mean that they have to do something
in return for the sums already obtained
and the future amount to be borrowed.
Uncle Sam has become Santa Claus,
but is not being recognized as such by
any of the recipients of his good deeds.
America has provided the bulk of the
hundreds of millions now being spent
by the UNRRA, but nowhere is there a
sign of recognition for its munidcence.
More money will soon be asked of Con-
gress for the purpose OF assisting the
people of Europe and we will not have
even the moral satisfaction of having
its recipients know that help has
come from America. A cursory in
vestigation by members of subcom-
mittee of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee which visited Europe recent
ly has shown that most of the shipments
to Poland find their way into the black
market.
We have spent nearly $4,000 900 900
in lease-lend. AS a matter of fact, no.
body in this country thought that the
several billion dollars required four years
ago to help the democratic nations fight
the Axis would be repaid. We believed
that We were buying ourselves way out
of the war by becoming the arsenal of
democracy. Mr.. Churchill had stated
give us the tools and we will do the job.
That was considered sufficient assur-
ance that if we donated several billion
dollars worth of materials to the ma
tons which were fighting Hitler We
would not become involved in the war
After Pearl Harbor, when we became
the associate of the countries which were
already at war, continuation of lease
lend had become even more important
The war against the Axis could not have
been brought to quick and satisfactory
end without our supporting the United
Nations with war materials and goods
for civilian consumption.
Political questions which arose ir
the last three years, such as the
conflict between the original American
doctrine of freedom and democracy as
provided in the Atlantic Charter anc
the Russians demands for security
did not Interfere with the liberal con-
signment of billions of dollars of lease.
lend goods to the Soviet Union.
Relations Not Threatened.
Our Government at no time made use
of this powerful lever to guarantee the
strict application of the Atlantic Char
ter which had been freely accepted by
all the members of the United Nations
The administration felt it would not be
playing ball if it told those members OF
the United Nations which made the
Charter a scrap of paper that unless
they abided by their signature they
would receive only very limited assist
ance. We had to win the war and had
no desire to cross any of the Allies who
were fighting the Germans.
Now the war is over. The sums adj
vanced for lease-lend are to be forgot
ten, which is in keeping with the origi-
nal conception of lease-lend
But from all the official and unofficial
reports reaching Washington from Eu-
rope, this gesture has not helped rela-
lions between this country and her Eu-
ropean Allies. Aside from the fact that
in most European countries Americans
are treated as unwelcome guests who
ought to know better than to butt into
their affairs, Americas views on the set
Element Of the various European prob
lens carries little if any weight.
The Council of Foreign Ministers,
which has been meeting in London for
the last 10 days to blueprint the actual
peace treaties in Europe, is faced with
unexpected difficulties because some OF
our major Allies, particularly Russia. in
tend to make sure that their territorial
ambitions are fulfilled.
The American Government announced
with pride in June that the United
Nations Organization was now an ac-
complished fact since all the nations
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