Evening star., 1947-05-26
On the Record
Stossen Proposal for Aid
Abroad Held to Be Sound
Nation Is Seen Benefting From Plan
to Get Raw Materials in Return
By Dorothy Thombson

By Dorothy Thombson
Mr.. stassen, I thought. made sensible sug-
gestions In his speech In Jefferson, Iowa, on
wednesday. What he proposed was more or
less resumption Of lend-lease TO be repaid in
raw materials, many Of which the United
States greatly needs
He proposed that 10 per cent Of American
production. selectiyely chosen. should be ear
marked for this purpose. It is by no means
an exorbitant proportion. With more order
and stability, our economy could manage that
without in the least stinting ourselves. In
fact, without exporting about that measure OF
our products, we shall speedily get into jam
here ct home.
We are living In world which needs capital
goods to get started and consumers goods to
keep the populations working. It also needs
q combination Of both to restore the function.
ing Of the economies Of European and Asiatic
states to create the basis for return to normal
commerce At present, what the nations need
are goods, and from the United States, what We
need is fuller, more rapid production Great
Britain has dollar exchange. with which to
purchase mining machinery which she desper-
ately needs. But, unfortunately, we shall not
have mining machinery to sell for another
two or three years
Must Consider Congress.
MIR. Stassen is q political leader and is forced
to consider what arguments he can present
to Congress, on which depends the success OF
any program. But there are some phrases
that wish could be avoided, one Of them
being stop communism" 1t is, I think, q
holdover from the recent "anti" attitude:
"Anti-Fascist," "anti- -Nazi," "anti-Semite," and
what not. Since 1t is my conviction that COM
munism is only the last refuge of bankruptcy
and despair think that all we need to stop
communism" is coherent intelligence, warm
heart, an armor of ethical principles, and a
well-founded conviction among mankind that
we are against war.
Combining these things may not, at all times
please the leaders of other states. But don't
think that should worry u.s. II we are clear in
purpose and pure In motive. Confucius said:
"A gentleman has no worry and no fear. II
he looks within himself and Is sure he has done
right, what has he to fear or worry about?"
This country Is anxious only because It isn't
sure 1t has done right. am for cooperating"
with others If reason and morality do not sug-
gest' that we are cooperating for something
stupid or evil-and not only communism. I
don't, for instance, see communism in pulling
up and dispensing populations and showing
around long established frontiers should
think things like this are no more In con-
forn1ity with communism than with the At
lantic Charter.
The soviets have often been backsliders from
their own principles.
Economic Pressure Opposed.
Nor do think we should accompany con.
tributions to other countries with pressure for
any particular economic system. I'd rather
demand the preservation of human rights than
no modification OF capitalism
Also, cannot bring myself to agree with Mr..
Stassen that the Ruhr-whose development he
correctly puts high in priorities should be left
to private ownership. It seems to me that
mixed ownership, on cooperative principles,
would be better.
The Ruhr-being the coal basin of Germany,
France, Italy. and some of the smaller states,
should, think, be owned by condominium OF
those states. This should be along cooper
ative principles according to the amount OF
coal each normally takes from the area Pri-
vate minority participation could be encouraged,
thus creating mixed system-neither social
ism nor capitalism, but working cooperative,
international combination.
If we offer freedom, humanism, and enter
prise chance to operate for international well
fare, I think we have nothing to fear from
communism. ~
CReleased by The Bell syndicate)