Milford chronicle., 1947-10-03
News ~.
BEHIND, 60 = =,
THEhtE:''I|'7SS'IE3|1 :''I|'7S'I3
Released BY Western Newspaper Union
Europe Wants 40 Billions
By Paul MALLoN


Released by Western Newspaper Union.
Europe Wants 30 Billions
WASHINGTON. = The state de-
partment heard some stories not
generally circulated, that the Euro
peans had just about decided at
Paris to try to take from the United
States 38 to 40 billion dollars more
in four years. The figures were pub
lished vaguely from Paris in one
New York paper. although not :
otherwise, yet they must have been
mentioned in the confidential official
dispatches, as this government de-
cided to act fast.
Forty billions is double what
anyone had mentioned any
where before, and four times as
much as the hapless Ben Cohen
had guessed in speech would
be necessary--a guess which
caused him to retire, without
objection, as counsel to the state
department.
At once, Acting State Secretary
Lovett dispatched two men to Paris.
One is George Kennan, top-bracket
manipulation on the Marshall gen.
eral staff, or what might be called
chief of staff of his policy planning
commission. Kennan is supposed to
be the Mr.. x who wrote so straight
forwardly against Russia in Foreign
Affairs Quarterly, far more straight
forwardly than any official has done
before under his own name. They
say Kennan is greatly respected by
State Secretary Marshall. and Is one
aof the most influential men in the
department now. With him went
Charles Bonesteel, a special assist
ant who is not well known.
EXTRAvAGANT DEMANDS
Will Clayton, the foreign trade
assistant, was supposed to be in
Paris looking out for American in
terests at the conference, although
this country is not officially partici-
pating. But Clayton has been down
at Geneva most of the time working
on the international trade meeting.
and the European planners at Paris
have been just Topsying along, con-
centrating on their own ills. seeing
how much money they could use
from US, without any advice as to
how much might reasonably be
available.
What Kennan and BonesteeI
/ were sent to tell the European
statesmen was evident in an Off
the-record press conference held
next day by top state depart
ment official. His words were
much stronger and more threat
ening than indicated thereafter
in the public announcement
from the Kennan-C Clayton con-
/ ference in Paris, although the
restrictions against publication
were such that they failed con-
siderabIy to reach the public.
He said such figures we're extrav-
agant and out of all line. If Euro
pean demands for money from US
get too high, wide and handsome.
we will have to call off the whole
advance planning - the Marshall
plan.
But even if Paris is reasonable.
we may not have enough money
ourselves to furnish half what is
wanted. The true basis of the Mar
shall plan, which Europe seems to
be forgetting, is that the European
nations will first help themselves to
the utmost, to show how they can
re-establish themselves if certain
aid is given, and then we viii see
about the aid. For instance, We may
have to send tractors so they can
work their own fields, instead OF
sending wheat, the finished product
WHERE WILL MONEY
COME FROM?
: The Europeans were advised tc
change their demands and measure
them to the realities Of our situation
No official said so, but Kennan
and Bonesteel could well have
been instructed TO tell Clayton
to tell the Europeans, they
should not only demand what
they need, but tell US how we
are going to raise the money In
this country to furnish it,
, whether by current high or still
higher taxation, whether by in
, creasing our staggering war
debt, now above $50 billion dol
. lars or what.
The whole European conception
: Of the Marshall plan obviously ha'
grown out of reality into a sort @
!. proposed grab-bag, and the admin
. istration acted hastily to correct II
. knowing full well the limitation
! which might be imposed against an,
h free money running scheme by
. Republican congress. In line wit
n all this, a report from the Hartman
g committee of 10 will be releases
! soon on just how much aid this ma
E ton can afford to give Europe with
out running our prices up into a
even higher stratosphere.
n
o Truman Won't Campaign Nov
: In certain private meetings wit
, Democratic politicos, President Trl
:. man made an unannounced and vi
. reported decision, turning down on
RIGHT political action to Offset Dewe