Evening star., 1947-05-23
A Beginning Only

It would be a mistake to suppose that
American action to help nations abroad
has come to an end with the Presidents
signing of the momentous Greco Turkish
aid bill There may be no additional
measures of similar nature in the present
session of Congress, but that does not
mean that none will be needed IN the next
session.
Actually, whether we like it or not all
signs indicate that we are only at the be-
ginning of what we shall have to do If
political and economic chaos is to be
averted in the world. 1t is prospect tnat
involves much more than outlays for
Greece and Turkey, for foreign civilian
relief, or for the costs OF occupation 1t
is prospect that is almost certain to force
us to make historic decisions in the near
future-either for or against an integrated
long-term program under which the
United States will invest many billions OF
dollars in projects designed to get Europe
and Asia back on their feet.
The critical nature OF the situation may
be summed up by saying that the war
ravaged world faces q reconstruction
problem dwarfing any in the past Most
nations, to get their recovery going, are
sorely in need OF goods and equipment
from us. But they do not have the gold,
dollars or other wherewithal to pay us
for these things, or they are running low
on their ability to put up cash or the
equivalent. This fact-together with the
fact that the European and Asiatic econo-
mics are dependent for health on the
revival of the German and Japanese
workshops creeping eco
nomic paralysis, which in turn threatens to
promote the continued spread of totali-
tarianism, particularly communism. To
cope with this threat, the two most i'm
portant steps to be taken are ID the earli-
est possible action to revitalize the indus
tries of Germany and Japan without per-
Knitting them to remilitarize, and Cd a
positive American program-an integrated
one, not piecemeal one-to give large
scale help where it is needed and where
it will do the most good.
AS far as Germany and Japan are con-
cerned, action faces serious obstacles be-
cause OF Russia's attitude. An American
aid program, however, Is up to America
itself Some have suggested that we should
undertake a peacetime version OF lend
lease. Former Undersecretary of State
Acheson has proposed carefully planned
measures to make large additional loans
or extend other types of help to anti
totalitarian peoples, and to increase our
imports from them so they will have dollars
to buy from u.s. Harold e. stassen is the
latest to suggest plan. Having in mind
the Nations gigantic productive capacity,
he advocates lending abroad 10 per cent
of our total output of goods and food every
year for ten years to promote worldwide
peace and plenty and freedom"
At frst glance, such proposals-all more
or less reminiscent of lend-lease-rnay
seem startling and perhaps even bit
fantastic, and on study they may be found
to have serious weaknesses. Nevertheless,
the fact that, they are being made is
measure of the potential gravity of the
political and economic crisis now in the
making abroad. A few months hence some
thing very much like them may we'll be the
subject Of fateful debate. We ought not
to delude ourselves into thinking that our
responsibilities to the world have ended
with the Greco Turkish bill. We are the
only Nation Inf position to help, and for
the sake of our own prosperity and peace,
that help may have to be extraordinarily
large in the years Immediately ahead.