Evening star., 1947-09-07
European
Continued From First Page.)

( considera ton by both the executive
branch of the Government and by
Congress.
This critical gap may be, by re-
sponsible estimate. minimum OF
three months and possibly much
more. It would begin around the
first of December and end at what
ever time funds or goods begin
moving to Europe under the Mar
shall plan, assuming Congress ap-
proves it.
The difficulty with the Ideal So
luton" of a temporary aid fund as
an advance against the Marshall
plan of United States aid on self
help basis is that it assumes several
developments which officials frankly
admit may not be politically prac-
ticable
Special Session a Factor.
These are:
l. The summoning of special
session by President Truman to
meet in late October or early No
vember for the purpose of providing
emergency assistance to Europe.
There has been no indication that
the White House shares the State
Departments alarm over economic
conditions in Europe.
2. Whether President Truman de-
cides to call special session or
not may be greatly influenced by
Secretary of State Marshall's rec
concentrations. From most RESPONSE
BILE informants it is understood that
Gen. Marshall himself has not
formally crystalized his thinking on
the issue He may do so in a short
time. All the information reaching
him from his advisers. both eco
nomic and political, is that Europe
appears to be in for terrible and
possible disastrous winter.
8. If the Administration does ask
q special session there then would
arise the question of whether Con-
!sress would be willing to grant funds
in advance of the Marshall Plan
as sort of future charge against
it. To do so would be forecast
on the part of Congress that it in
tended to approve the Marshall re-
covery program. This would be ex-
-tremely encouraging to the people of
Europe, diplomats contend, but
would be a highly unusual action
for Congress.
Question of Sum Required.
4. If Congress should be in gen.
1eral willing to make such an ad-
vance there still would remain the
question of the sum required. The
State Department is now in the
embarrassing position Of having
twice made major miscalculations
on European economic needs. 1t first
figured that the European postwar
economy could be restored by loans
to Britain and France and addi-
tional piecemeal help to other coun-
tries supplementing UNRRA, and
similar international help. 1t later
figured that Europe should be able
to hold out until the Marshall plan
could become effective.
The Marshall plan actually Is an
e1uURTOWUIl VI lllC lCIoSl11SASAA VA
the first miscalculation. the admis-
sion that piecemeal financing
would not work. The second mis-
calculation was conceded by Under
secretary of State Lovett at a news
conference Wednesday. He then
said that the economic emergency
in Europe is growing much more
rapidly than officials had realized
On Friday the State Departments
top policy planner, George F. Ken
nan. returned from Paris bringing
the latest information in the en-
srgency situation as well as or
Iong-range planning for the Mar
shall recovery program.
Mr.. Kennan's information ano
recommendations, the word M
brought back from Undersecretary
Clayton, and reports flowing into
the State Department from other
quarters may provide Gen. Marshall
with information for q much fullel