Evening star., 1947-06-29

policy completely.
It Ia admitted-though never
oficially by the spokesn1en OF the
administration-that the ills which
are undermining Europe's economic
life are OF political rather than
an economic nature. Unquestion-
ably the war caused serious damage
to the invaded countries. But 1t
did not destroy their natural re-
sources. nor did it irreparably dam
age their industrial plants, taken
as a whole.
italy. for instance, suffered loss
of about 10 per cent OF her INDUS
trial capacity. An almost Identical
situation exists in France and
Britain. With American assistance
particularly In industrial 1mpie-
ments and a certain amount OF 1ooo
and an earnest endeayor to STA
biIize currencies, Europe can re-
cover economically IN five years
11bis Is true of those countries be-
hind the iron curtain as well as
those outside of 1t.
Politics to Blame
Political considerations are prln-
cipslly to blame for the delay IN
E,rrope's economic reconstruction
Russia has used every means at her
disnosaI-either direct Intervention
or Intervention through her StoogeS
to prevent economic revival IN all
European countries.
Only in the last few weeks nave
The Premiers of France and Italy
decided to remove the Communists
from their cabinets and are now
attempting to bring some KIND Oh
order out of chaos. They are pro-
ceeding timidly, though, since the
Communists have firm hold on all
the labor unions, and even on some
farmers, PremierS Paul Ramadler
and AIcide de Casper are fully
aware that if Moscow gave the order
the Communists could order gen.
eral strike and topple their govern
ments almost overnight,
The efforts of the two Premiers
10 organize governments OF law and
order based on western concepts OF
democracy are supported by the
United States. Secretary of State
Marshall--who is fully converSant
with the European situation and
knows that It's troubles are more
political than economic-made his
historic offer to help the nations
of Europe, provided they show
clearly their willingness to help
themselves.
Offer Is Sincere
Russia was not excluded from the
plan because there are still many
advisers in the State Department
who believe that Russia's behavior
nm IN this time has been influenced
by an Oriental suspicion and fear
that the United States wanted to
interfere with Russia's legitimate
plans to secure herself definitely
against future aggression.
There is nothing "phony'' in the
offer made by the American Gov
ernment. There are no jokers in it,
All Europe has to do is place all her
available resources and energies in
the service of reconstruction. And
that includes Russia, She need do
nothing more than aid the rest OF
Europe from her vast reservoir OF
raw materials and order her stooges
in the Balkans, Central Europe and
Western Europe to desist from
further agitation.
If the Paris parley fails because of
the usual Russian Ifs" and butts,
only two courses will remain open to
us for foreign policy in the future:
CD We can talk bluntly to Russia,
holding her officially responsible for
chaos in the world. Such policy
must be predicated on the willing
ness of the countries outside the
iron curtain to work with us.
(2p We can say nothing further to
Russia, re-examine the international
situation, cut adrift from Europe
and concentrate on organization of
the Western Hemisphere into vast
economic and political fraternity
based on democratic concepts.
Blunt Talk Risky
Most policy trainers in the State
Department. who realize that there
is no third course, are wary of
policy of blunt talk lest it draw even
sharper answers from the U. S. S. R.
and give substance to a charge that
American statesmen are warmon-
gering.
Right now We are in a position to
use the same language toward Mos
COW as it uses toward lis, but we
have not always backed our words
with action. The Truman doctrine
enunciated last March IL was strong
medicine, but the followup was
rather pathetic. particularly after
the Russians took over Hungary
lock. stock and barrel Under the
pale excuse that We must preserve a
listening post in Hungary, the State
Department recognized the new
Moscow puppet government in Bud
apest.
L. - Iii