Evening star., 1947-11-24

BY all means, Mr.. President, let's
be realists. AS realists we must look
to wholly adequate armed defense
until such time as dependable al
ternativ have proven their re-
AS realists we must ever
guard our own resources against
suicidal depletions. AS realists we
must zealously protect our own SOL
vency. AS realists we must protect
our peace-aids against exploitation,
mismanagement and waste.
AS realists we know we cannot
underwrite the world AS realists we
must, at long last, get down to brass
tacks in all these aspects. AS realists
we must know the total balance
sheet. AS realists we know these
postwar recuperations must en-
brace Germany permanently demil-
itarized) and the Far East. We must
be hard boiled, If you please, when
we face all of these calculated risks.
But, as in the instant case, let us,
with equal zeal, equal candor and
equal purpose, consider the calcu-
lated risks-not as sentimentalists,
but as realists-the calculated risks
to us If we turn our backs upon our
foreign friends and let them sink
for want of aid which might have
kept them alive and free
Risk Is Doing Nothing.
1 quote the quiet but impressive
eloquence Of Ambassador Douglas,
speaking few days ago before our
committee: One has to measure
the risks implicit in the program
with the risks of doing nothing
While there are risks in undertake
ing the program there are incul-
culably greater risks to the United
States in doing nothing.
I wish to make it entirely plain
that this is my own view. With the
greatest respect for those who dis
agree with this premise, I can only
assert my own deep belief that
American rejection of this concept
may only postpone an ultimate con-
f1ict which otherwise need never
occur, and which never should be
allowed to occur.
Now, Mr. President, let us come
directly to the pending bill want
| to make it plain that the Senate
is not confronting in this pending
vote any sort of an obligation to
other and subsequent relief pro-
grams of greater magnitude. The
only question here-and there are
no other mplications-is interim
emergency aid for France, Italy and
Austria for the period ending March
81, 1948.
1t is not reconstruction bill. 1t
is human relief bill. In general
categories it deals with 1901 900, 600
for food. s184 100000 for coal, $35,-
100000 for petroleum, $38, 600, 900 for
cotton, $35 100000 for fertilizers
pesticides and seed, and $4,OOO,OOO
for medicine.
We do not here pass upon the
long range, so-called Marshall
plan" That proposal has not as yet
even reached our committee. We here
deal exclusively with an authoriza-
ton not to exceed $597 100000 fo1
interim relief terminating with the
first quarter of 1948 Even this is
not final because the actual appro-
priationS must still be screened by
the Appropriations Committee and
then submitted to a final Senate
vote.
Immediate Aid Is Problem.
I readily concede that there are
interlocking factors between this in
terim plan and the ultimate long
range plan. There is a common con-
sideration inherent in each
Nevertheless, despite their common
stem, the two bills are separate
and different.
The deterioration which has beer
occurring in the position of Euro
pean countries regarding the means
available to them to procure essen.
tial imports has reached an acute
stage in the case of France, Italy
and austria. The evidence indi,
Gates that these countries have
practically exhausted all of theil
available means for paying for tht
essential imports which they neec
to feed and clothe their people
and to prevent an immediate ane
drastic reduction in agriculture
and industrial activities with con
sequent unemployment and interna
instability. =
The current assets of Austria art
negligible and her essential import!
at the present time are being sup,
piled principally through the United
States foreign relief program.
France and Italy have actee
forthrightly in scaling down the leve
of dollar expenditures by taking al
feasible measures to eliminate sup
plies which are not absolutely es
sential In June, 1947, Italy stopped
making governmental purchases O
all commodities except cereals, Goa
and petroleum products
France took action late in Angus
in stopping the placement of all nev
dollar contracts, except those TO
cereal, coal and petroleum prod
ucts Indications are that befor
the end of December, France vii
have no funds even to buy food am
fuel. In the case of Italy funds vii
be needed early in December t
procure food, fuel and other essen