Evening star., 1947-07-06
Opportunity Knocks in Europe
Soviet Staing Tactics Offer Real Chance for Economic
Unifcaton of Western Democracies
By Ne,cbold Moves, J

NOySSs ~
8. They would grant the same mutual equal
access to fields of possible investment under
their control.
4. They would work out a division Of indus
trial effort. which would keep them from
stimying one another in wasteful competition
for their mutually controlled markets. raw ma
terals and investment possibilities.
In short. they would pool their economies,
substituting a continental organization for the
fragmented national patchwork with which
they now are cursed.
Essential Machinery Exists
The administrative machinery through which
such an organization could be effected would,
Of course, be the subject of careful study.
Most of the essential machinery, however
such as the European Economic Council and
the coal and transport organizations-seems
already to exist. and needs only to be activated
Such a development would virtually assure
Europe's ability to play its part in the con-
templated American aid program. which seeks
to deal with the continent as whole rather
than as a collection of individual states. 1t
might do great deal more than that. Many
an economist is on record with the belief that
ii these nations could cast of their shackles
Of economic nationalism, they would need
no long-range dole from us, but would emerge
almost overnight as the possessors of as potent
an economy as there is in the world.
This potentiality. all along. has been one
solid basis for the Russian fear of the idea
Of western bloc" The Russians know that
If that part of Europe outside their sphere
Of influence could be organized. it would hope
lessly overbalance, as to power, the part of
Europe they control.
1t would be unreasonable to suppose that
Europe could unity itself economically without
first overcoming most serious internal difficult
ties. Many explanations have been offered for
the sharpness Of the Russian break in Paris.
Most of them seem singularly wishful. We
should not conclude that the Politbureau
simply blundered. Much more logical is the
supposition that Russias leaders believe they
can thwart our aid plan. defeat the effort they
know we now must make.
We know Russas weapons. They are the
strong Communist Parties in such key European
countries as France and Italy. Russia can, and
will, use them against us, no matter what course
we of the West pursue.
1t does not follow, however that we should
lower our sights or assume it will be any harder
for Europe to revive as an economically unified
continent than as group OF individual nations.
For Europe cannot revive except as an eco
nomcally unified continent. And unless it does
revive, the Russians, and chaos. will have won.
Nothing, moreover would cut popular support
from under the Communist Parties of Western
Europe as fast and surely as popular belief
in the future of Europe as a free and prosper
Gus continent
War with Russia is not the issue here But
this is time OF real crisis. one of those rare
moments OF historic choice We in America
may lose everything we count precious If we
hesitate to choose bravely
And Western Europe, in its own behalf,
must also choose