Evening star., 1947-07-06
Russia S Opposition
To u, 5, Aid BoIsters
Prospects in Congress
By John M. Hiehtower
Assariafad press Sfnff CnrrespondAni

Russia's opposition to Secretary
of State Marshall's plan for Euro
pean recovery appears to have
strengthened greatly the prospects
that Congress will approve the plan
and appropriate the billions neces-
sary to put it over.
That is the opinion expressed yes
terday by both diplomatic and con-
gressional authorities. They seemed
agreed that all the latest develop
mentS here and abroad made the
plan look better and better to those
House and Senate members who
have been highly suspicious Of talk
that Russia might Cooperate" be-
cause they no longer believe in
RuSsia's goodwill.
Acceptance of the Marshall plan
inside the United States Is almost
as important to European govern
ments as was its acceptance or re-
lection by Russia. For these gov
ernments are now being forced vir-
tually to choose up sides" between
the American British French line
up and the Soviet Union. They do
not want to take any unnecessary
chances that the United States will
let them down.
Test of Bipartisan Policy.
Some diplomatic authorities say
the Marshall plan probably will pro-
vide the most critical test of bipar-
tisan conduct of foreign policy since
Congress passed the British loan
program year ago this month.
And while their home governments
60 forward with responses to the
British French invitation to meet in
Paris July IA, European ENJOYS
watch every shift in the American,
and particularly the congressional,
attitude toward the program.
Essentially the plan is to develop
an integrated European economy
with financial aid from the United
States.
The developments which are deep
ly influencing thinking at the Capt.
tol are reliably said to have begun
with Foreign Minister Molotov's re-
lection of the plan. They were fur
ther said to embrace President Tru-
mans denunciation yesterday of the
Soviet stand as well as the latest
British and French notes to Moscow
urging the Soviets to reconsider Mr..
Molotov's declaration Of opposition.
Moscow Policy Change Doubted.
Both the Presidents Charlottes-
vile speech, describing as folly"
Soviet opposition to organized Euro
pean decovery, and the new notes
to Moscow were seen here as having
substantially the same effect in
terms of public and congressional
opinion.
They serve to outline more sharp
ly She stand taken by Russia and to
strengthen on this issue the record
beiag made by the western powers
against Russia. Diplomatic officials
said they doubt that Britain and
France really expect any change in
the Moscow policy because that
seems to have been unalterably fixed
Mt the Paris conference.
However, 1t is explained here that
the Western powers, including the
United States, have been following
an open-door policy toward Russia.
This holds that the Russians must
be given every opportunity to CO.
operate, and If they do not they
have to bear the responsibility for 1t.
Argument Against Plan Removed.
This policy has not always been
popular with some substantial ele-
ments in Congress. These have
argued that the Russians might
make show Of cooperating, then
play the United States for a sucker
by getting all they could and giving
nothing.
When Mr.. Molotov therefore de-
clared his absolute opposition
against cooperation with Britain
and France he apparently removed
one of the most powerful arguments
against the plan in Congress.
At the same time the Soviet
foreign minister threw down chal-
lenge to American leadership
throughout the world by threatening
with vague retaliatory acts the
countries which follow that leader
ship. Whether this amounts to q
Russian declaration of open eco
nomic warfare on the West remains
to be seen. First indications may
come from the visit to Moscow this
week end of Czechoslovak Premier
Klement Gottwald and Foreign
Minister Jan Masaryk.