Evening star., 1947-02-23

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buy United States Army surpluses
and was we'll along in talks with
the Export Import Bank for $780,
100000 loan.
Suddenly, in October, the loan
talks were called off and the unex-
pended $40,000,000 of credit was
suspended.
There was no official explanation.
But at the Paris Peace Conference
last summer the Czech delegation
voted consistently with the Soviet
delegation on several points which
Secretary of State Byrnes consid-
cred basic tests of democratic ac-
ton among nations. And at about
the same time Czech newspapers
charged the United States with prac-
ticing dollar diplomacy" That
charge continues to be made by
Soviet newspapers.
The abrupt period put to United
States-CZech loans shortly after.
ward caused CONSERVATION in Czech
oslovakia. Her Foreign Minister,
Jan Masaryk, took occasion at a
news conference to protest that his
nation wanted relations with both
Russia and the west. But the loan
talks were not resumed.
Poland's Credit S40,O00,OO0.
Poland obtained a $40,000,O0O Ex-
port-Import Bank loan in April last
year before American policy tight.
ened. That still stands, although
the Poles have drawn less than ST.
00C 900 on the account. 1t was set
up for the purchase of coal cars and
locomotives, and deliveries on that
equipment are SLOW.
Then, in August, Poland's repre-
sentative to the United Nations,
Oscar Lange, returned here from
Warsaw to say that Poland would
need further credits, from $780,
100000 to a half billion, depending
on what you can let us have
. No more has been heard Of that
idea, and no further loan to Poland
now seems possible.
During the past half year there
has been deep concern here over
the manner in which Poland's Com
unist-dominated provisional gov
ernment prepared for it's elections.
The United States Government, with
Britain and Russia, had pledged at
Yalta these elections would be free
and unfettered."
The elections took place January
81. Reports say the Communist VIC
tory was gained not through the
free" choices of the voters, but
through terrorism and political ar
rests-a distince blow to democracy.
The cases of Czechoslovakia and
Poland involve loans.
American relief to foreign nations
also will be managed on the basis of
help to friends" Since 1914 the
United States has poured $2,700,0 ,000,-
600 into UNRRA relief. That is over.
The last shipments will clear next
month.
Several nations still fear hunger
and pleaded with the recent United
Nations Assembly in New York for
a continued international relief or
ganization. The United States OPP
posed it and said hereafter American
relief would be distributed only
where there are Cd adequate safe
guards to prevent political use Of
food and (2) full publicity that the
supplies come from the United
States.
Help for Philippines.
There are informal understand
ings nov that the United States will
step in to prevent starvation in the
Philippines (where there is GEM
ocratically elected government and
in Austria, Greece and Italy. where
the democratic forces still have a
chance.
This means that Poland, Czecho-
slovakia, White Russia and the Uk-
raine (all of which received large
UNRRA Supplies) will have to look
elsewhere.
No loans at all have been made to
Russia and Yugoslavia. Last year
there was informal talk of a billion
dollar loan to Russia, but the talk
died, although Russia can still buy
here if she has the cash.
But even that would be partially
stopped by a group of House mem
bers. These Representatives would
like to see the Government prohibit
sales to Russia of any equipment for
the manufacture Of mass-destruc-
ton weapons until she has signed
up for international inspection Of
atomic energy.
4uSOoldFId, Will 11CI wal -OO1h
government, sought
loan here in 1945 but dropped the
idea after listening to the condi-
tions.
One Loan Behind the Curtain"
Hungary alone of the Russian
occupied nations is getting an ear
here. Just last week the State De-
partment announced a $15,000,000
credit to purchase surplus American
war material. Talks are afoot to
lend Hungary several millions to
buy American cotton for her textile
mills.
The Hungarian Government is
more nearly fusion government
satisfactory to Western ideas And
recently Russian cotton, on which
the Hungarian mills had been run
ming, stopped arriving. 1t is be-
Iieved the Soviets have run out Of
supplies.
1t would obviously bring no harm
Il