Evening star., 1947-09-04
Britain Wants Gold Distribution
Included in Marshall Proqrom:
Special Congress Call Studied
Decision to Be Made
When Kennon Gets
Back From Europe
BY the Assoejoted Press

Secretary of State Marshall |.
expected to decide within the
next two weeks whether to rec.
ommend a special session of Con.
gress for emergency action or
the European economic crisis.
Gen. Marshall's decision, officials
said today, probably will be made
shortly after George F. Kennan, the
Secretary's top policy planner, re-
turns from Paris with the latest
information from European officials
and American authorities there.
The final decision would be up te
President Truman He has said
several times that he would not hest
tate to recall the lawmakers if the
situation required such step.
Radio Report Tonight.
Gen. Marshall himself is just back
from the Rio de Janeiro Conference
on Inter-Anerican Defense and is
scheduled to appear with Senator
Vandenberg, Republican, of Mich
igan, on 30-minute radio broadcast
at 1890 o'clock tonight to report to
the Nation on the work of the con-
ference. The American and Mutual
networks will carry the program.
1t appeared certain that once that
chore is completed Gen. Marshall's
attention will be largely devoted to
the European crisis. Shortly before
the cabinet officers return by plane
to Washington yesterday afternoon
Undersecretary of State Lovett told
a news conference that the situation
in Europe is getting rapidly worse.
MIR. Lovett said he feels certain
that before the end of this year the
United States will be compelled to
face the hard facts of European
necessity. He made it clear that re-
ports from American observers at
Paris have presented the crisis as
much worse than the American gov
ernment previously had calculated.
The main trouble appears to be
that with a shortage of materials
essential for continued existence
chief among them grains-European
nations are confronted with dan.
gerously dwindling dollar supply
with which to stave off economic
collapse. The things they urgently
need require heavy dollar expendi.
lures. r..
Time Important Problem.
In time, officials explained, the
Marshall plan, assuming 1t wins ap.
proval from Congress, would re.
lieve the acute dollar shortage ane
at the same time enable the Euro.
pean countries to promote their re-
construction and build up exports se
they would begin to become self.
supporting.
But it is the problem Of time which
is at the core of the whole crisis anc
which, according to Mr.. Lovett''
analysis, confronts the American
government with a need to consider
emergency action.
According to the present Marshal
plan time schedule, details of the
European self-help program shoulc
be in the hands of the State De.
partment around the middle of thi!
month. Then Government studie.
of the American resources available
to meet this list of European needs
should be available around the frs
of october.
State Department experts hav'
figured that a total balance shee
of European needs and possible
American commitments should b.
ready for the House and Senate
Foreign Relations Committees BY
November at the earliest. The com
mites in turn are expected to com
plete their hearings barely in tim'
for presentation to the full Con
gress at the regular session in Jan
uary.
This time schedule is considered
fundamental element in the Gov
ernment's consideration of wha
kind of congressional action nigh
be possible by the end of this yea,
or in early January.
Uncertainty in European capital
(see MARSHALL, Page A-40