Evening star., 1947-08-08

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that the American Congress legis-
lated on foreign questions from an
lnsular viewpoint. For instance. the
late Senator Borah of Idaho, out
standing isolationist, was invited to
go abroad but declined amid wide
spread comment that he did not
want to learn by contact.
House Aided by Studies.
The principal committees investi-
eating conditions in foreign coun-
tries are those appointed by the
House of Representatives. 1t Is in
the House that the major opposition
to such things as the Marshall Plan
or change in the statutes covering
the British loan agreement will
arise.
Members of the House have al
ready performed considerable serv-
ice by their studies abroad. 1t has
been helpful to find committees and
subcommittee studying the financial
and economic trends of European
countries.
1t is most unfortunate that the
Russian government has turned
down the requests of three House
members to visit Russia. A similar
request by three Senators is pending.
In view of the coordinate impor-
tance of the legislative branch of
the Government in the ratification
of treaties and international agree
ments, it would be a serious mistake
II the Russian government denied
these ENJOYS an opportunity to study
conditions first hand.
The need for a closer relationship
with Russia is every day becoming
more and more imperative. If the
Russian government is unwilling
even to allow informal discussion
and visits to improve relations, the
whole world will wonder. Certainly
the burden will rest on the Russian
government.
Nearly every American visitor of
importance to Russia has brought
back information or impressions of
constructive value. 1t would seem
that an opportunity for the Rus
sian officials to talk frankly and in
formally with American Senators
this autumn would be a useful step
toward better relations with the
United States Congress.
There will, of course, be many
members of Congress visiting Great
Britain and France and some will
travel to the Far East. The British
economic situation is acute already.
Many observers here feel that the
loan agreement cannot be mate
rally altered without action by
Congress. The British have not
hesitated to welcome American
members of Congress and to let
them see for themselves the destruc-
ton which has swept England and
the heroic efforts that are being
made to rebuild a country which
for so many months in 1910 and
194l stood out against the Nazis
alone amid bombardment of civil
ians of such intensity as had been
unknown before.
In Throes of Readiustment.
Great Britain has been in the
throes of economic readiustment,
with wartime controls retained.
Drastic powers limiting the free
dom of Individuals. with rationing of
short supplies. have been applied in
a desperate effort to attain bal
anced economy.
Tha eoYin Drif ie1o
approved at a time when the price
level in the United States was much
lower than it is today. AS our
prices have risen, the cost to the
British of importing necessary COM
modities has risen perceptibly. Thus,
the loan does not go as far toward
allevlating Britains exchange prob
lem as was first contemplated.
Neither the United States nor
Britain is at fault as a consequence.
II any groups are to blame, 1t is the
American blocs OF economic power
which have conducted a battle on
prices and wages in an infiationary
duel that has caused suffering every
where
Some substantial alterations in
the British lean agreement have
long heen foreseen as necessary as
an alternative to an enlargement
OF the loan itself, something that
an economy minded Congress prob
ably wouldn't like as much as an
amendment of the terms. These
amendments would permit a post
ponement of the time when dollars
and pounds become convertible
throughout the sterling bloc of ma
tions and also would permit ad-
justments in trade between Britain
and her dominions.
Such changes would affect GER
tain segments of American trade
adversely, but. as between a collapse
In Britain and alterations in the
original plan, the latter is much to
De preferred.
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