Evening star., 1947-07-06

Greece is to serve as the pilot
plant" for similar humanitarian
enterprises which the United States
appears fated to undertake in vari-
Gus strategic parts OF the world, with
Korea and Iran probably next on
the list. It'is also designed to build
up Greece as model of democratic
free enterprise on the very thresh-
old of the Balkan and Danubian
countries which have been absorbed
into the Soviet satellite system in
Eastern Europe.
The project is in line with views
expressed not long ago by John
Foster Dulles, Republican authority
on foreign affairs and Secretary of
State Marshall's consultant at the
Moscow Conference of Foreign Min
listers. America, said Mr.. Dulles,
should place at the disposal of man
kind not so much money as the one
unique contribution the United
States has to offer-namely, our
genius for science, medicine, engi-
neering and industrial organization.
America to Handle Funds
The exponent Of "capitalistic"
craftsmanship expressed total dis
illusionment with dollar diplomacy.
He had watched the United States
pour torrents of money into Latin
America, with the result that today,
in his belief, there is not a sound
economic organism beyond the Rio
Grande. The reason, he thought,
was that American bounty had been
delivered into the hands of small
cliques of politicians and never
reached the masses of the people.
According to the FAC plan and
also that of the State Department,
American funds expended in Greece
will be administered by Americans.
The King and his courtiers will be
by-passed with the benefits applied
directly to the population in general,
through comprehensive schemes for
developing water power and irriga-
tion, undermining agricultural meth
DDS and soil fertility, improving live
stock, reviving fisheries and restor-
ing the Greek merchant marine of
2,000, 900 tons, rs per cent of which
was sunk during the war.
In compliance with President
Trumans recommendation in his
March IL address to joint session
of Congress, the Senate and House
passed bills granting $40o, 600, 900 to
Greece and Turkey. The latter will
receive $1oo,0Oo,OoO for indirect mil
itary assistance. The tentative plan
is to divide the oo0Oo,0O0 allotted
to Greece $3.50 between military aid
and economic rehabilitation.
Industries May Help
The report of the FAC mission to
Greece, the first of its kind, esti-
mated that .$10O, 100000 would start
the economic program and keep it
going for two years, after which
further assistance would be required.
But it Is hoped that in time. Greek
industries can be made at least
partly self-supporting, and that at
no distant future aid to the kingdom
will pass from a relief to a banking
basis. The grant of $500 600, 900 is
in addition to loan to $25, 600, 900
provided last year by the Export
Import Bank and credits of $45, ,00o,-
900 and SIS, 5,000, 900 which were ex-
tended, respectively, for the pur-
chase of ships from the Maritime
Commission and the acquisition of
foreign surplus property.
With population of 7,48s, 900 and
an area slightly smaller than that
Of Illinois, Greece made an out
standing contribution to victory over
the Axis by defeating the Italian in
vasion of October, 1910. Hitler felt
compelled to rescue Mussolini and
attacked Greece in April, 1941. This
led to war with Yugoslavia. The
Germans lost two precious months
Of favorable weather in their on
slaught against the Soviet Union.
Some military experts hold that the
respite saved Russia from overthrow.
In revenge, the retreating Ger
mans Systematically reduced Greece
to chaos. Communications were de-
stroyed, port facilities were wrecked
and highways were blasted into pot
holes. In the whole country only
six locomotives and 100 freight cars
remained. More than 1000 villages
were burned. Livestock, poultry and
draft animals virtually disappeared.
Eighty-five per cent of the children
were said to have become tubercu-
lar. Economic prostration brought
on an imitation In which the drach-
ma plunged from Is to 2 billion for
one American dollar.
Depends on Imports
Even in normal times, Greece was
dependent on imports to meet 40
per cent Of its food requirements.
The principal export commodity, to-
bacco, was sold. chiefly in Central
European markets which no longer
exist. The kingdom also raised
wheat and other grains, olives and
citrus fruits. 1t has undeveloped
resources of iron, zinc and Ignite.
In agricultural methods and indus
try it Is primitively backward.
The FAC plan Is therefore COM
PEELED to start from the very bottom
in its design to raise land OF havoc
and bankruptcy in two and a half
to prosperity and self
sufficiency. Its mastery report, sup
that of Paul A. Porter |