Evening star., 1947-12-02
The Political Mill
Europe Winter Aid Bill
Passage Seen Assured
Will Be Precursor of Lont. .RanSs
Battle Over Marshall Plan
By Gould Lincoln


The first hurdle has been taken successfully
by the Administrations winter relief bill foe
Europe-overwhelmingly passed by the sen-
ate. The House is expected to follow suit
although the measure may be modified. The
aid which will thus be given to France and
Italy and Austria to tide them over desperate
situation is the precursor Of the long-rangs
Marshall plan. it Is over the latter that tbs
forces on both sides are girding for battle.
AS matters now stand, many Republicans In
Congress are bent on proving to the American
people that the proposed tremendous contribu-
tions Of money and goods contained in the
Marshall plan are closely linked with high
prices and imitation in this country. They
contend that President Truman's proposals. for
the restoration Of wartime controls over prices
and wages Ito be used when necessary and
rationing can be directly traced to the admins
tration's demand for these contributions to the
restoration of war-torn Europe. The danger
to the Marshall plan lies in susceptibility Of
the American people to agree with this line
Of reasoning.
The Marshall plan has still to be presented
in legislative form to Congress Presumably
this will be delayed until the winter emergency
measure has been finally passed. carrying as 1t
will about $6oo00o,000. Secretary Of State
Marshall has estimated for his long-rangs
plan, 81, 500 900 900 Of aid for Western Europe
for five periods of three months each, carrying
the plan through to the end OF the next fiscal
year, which ends June 80, 1949. Thereafter.
more billions are to follow.
Long Debate Predicted.
The Marshall plan will be debated at
length. First Congress must be convinced that
the United States will not bleed itself white
by such contributions now contemplated. Sec
ond, it must be convinced that these large
amounts of money and goods are vitality essen
tial to Western Europe's rebuilding.
As of today, in the face of growing apprs-
hension in Congress, the administration ap-
pears to have set its sights too high. Even the
friends of the Marshall plan on Capitol Hill be-
lieve they will have to be lowered; that Con-
gress will balk-not at the Marshall plan, which
is designed to help Western Europe rebuild and
become sustaining ut the aSe OF the
contributions demanded. It Ii certain that .
most searching inquiry into European needs
and also into Americas ability to contribute
will be made before the legislation IL enacted
1t will be dimcult to convince both the
Republican Congress and the American people
that occasionally decisions In time Of peace are
A. important as decisions in time Of war;
that the decision to 60 forward with the
u u
this countrys safety. It Is likely to require all
the leadership and skill Of Senator Vandenberg
Of Michigan, Republican, chairman Of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and .
strong supporter Of the plan to help Europe
rebuild and 80 escape communism, to press the
legislation to final passage. The Michigan
Senator, of course, will have support among
his colleagues both Democratic and Republic
can, and in the House. 1t promises, however,
to be an epic battle
Narrow Political View.
In no case must the aid be permitted to be
too little and too late, Otherwise it would
be wiser to abstain, retaining Americas re-
sources and wealth for q probable struggle
with Soviet Russia-which, rs Senator Iyes Of
New York, Republican, has warned, is likely to
end with this country a slave to communism
With . national election less than q year
away, with their demand for immediate reduce
ton of the Federal income taxes In the balance
the Republicans in Congress are too much
irclined to take q narrow political view OF the
foreign situation. They are under constant
accusation, by the Democrats, Of having
brought about increased prices in this country
because they failed to retain the OPA as 1t
existed in wartime They suspect the President
Of trying to put them still more In the hole
with his proposal to restore price control.
In the midst Of this political battle, the
Marshall plan must night for its life. 1t 10
true that Gov. Dewey Of New York, 4 leading
contender for the Republican presidential
nomination, and former Gov stassen Of Mn.
nesota, also . candidate for the presidential
nomination, have thrown their influence On
the side of the Marshall plan-though not In
all its details. Nevertheless the going will b
difficult.