Evening star., 1947-12-23
Marshall Plan Forces
Must Depend on Facts
To Secure Approval
Propaganda Won't Swoy
SkeptieoI Congress as
= Businessmen Protest
Bv David Laurence

DJ D0bb" A<~s~f
propaeanda will not put over the
Marshall plan. But facts may do
the job.
Senator vandenberg, Republican,
chairman Of the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee, is one of the best
appraisers Of public sentiment in
America, and he knows isolationist
sentiment from internationalism
He knows, too, that If any policy
involving foreign affairs Is not ap-
proved by a substantial majority
in Congress. the program has no
chance of being sustained in the
long run as a. permanent program.
What President Truman and Sec
retary Marshall have asked Con-
gress to provide Is four-year pro-
gram Of aid to Europe. This is un-
precedented in subject matter and
unprecedented in procedure. 1t isn't
customary to ask one Congress, In
effect, to bind its successor.
Chairman Vandenberg has decided
on the only sensible course-to open
up the hearings to all points Of view
and to get witnesses to speak frankly
their points Of criticism or approval.
He is right when he insists that this
be done to clarity the many conflict
ing views which are being expressed.
- Condemned by Many.
II, in other words, there are sound
objections to the Marshall plan. let
those who hold that viewpoint make
a case. Maybe the case against 1t
is stronger than the advocates OF the
plan realize. Maybe it will result In
notifications or safeguards.
The truth is that the Marshall
plan today, on the basis of frank and
outspoken comments made In private
here, would not get majority in
Congress. Many members privately
condemn the whole thing but hesi-
tate to say they will vote against It.
Amendments could emasculate the
program. The opposition to the
plan does not spring entirely from
those who have always opposed mea-
:sures looking toward international
cooperation. It stems from many
who honestly are convinced the
Marshall program will weaken the
economic structure Of the United
States and in turn weaken the
whole world rather than accelerate
recovery.
Many businessmen are vehemently
opposed to the Marshall plan. They
represent a huge segment Of Amer
ican industry. Their opposition In
private Il 30 comprehensive that In
recent weeks members Of Congress
have become skeptical as to how far
the Marshall plan really Is accepted
by public opinion.
The Hns Of argument runs about
like this. Imitation b not recent
affair. IT began really when the
New Deal devalued the gold content
Of the dollar and embarked on
spending spree that sent wages up
faster than the cost Of living 5ustt-
fed and created billions upon billions
Of new credit. Then came the war
that used up huge quantity OF
American resources. Wages went
up again and prices went up too.
AS q consequence, America has an
inflated structure on top on which
ths Marsl1all plan, it ID oontended,
can only, bring dire results-that Is,
u1ore imitation and ultimately . crash
resulting In unemployment. g ~.
..e,ra CAN Tables No Answer. -,
Tho opponents Of the Marshall plan
insist It was proclaimed without gtv-
ing dns regard 10 the economic
sftaatton h America and that It Is
no snswer to gfve out statistical
tables about the unused resources
Of America.
There can be no doubt that the
economic situation In America is not
going. to be made any more palatable
by the extension Of financial aid to
Europe. There can be no doubt also
that artificial support for the sale
Of goods in exports Is not the way
to build sound condition In world
trade.
But the argument Of those who
favor the Marshall plan will be
that, granting the Embellishments
and the difficulties and even the un-
sound features OF the whole program
America Is faced with big decision
win America support the economic
structure Of Europe or let 1t col
lapsei VIII America take the
chance Of Withholding support and
letting economic chaos produce new
and dangerous international situa-
tions that may cause larger and
larger outlays for military purposes7
These are basic points and Senator
vandenberg wants the whole thing
debated frankly and fully. Then the
American people can decide not only
whether they can afford the Mar
shall plan but whether they can
afford not to put It into effect at
the earliest moment
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