Evening star., 1947-10-17
u. 5. Officials Oppose
New Marshall Plan
Farley as Useless


Administration officials study
Ing the request of the 16 Euro
pean nations for nearly 500
OOO,OO0,OO0 in Marshall Plan aid |
nave about concluded that it
would be useless to reconvene
the Paris conference, which drew
up the program, it was learned
today.
There has been considerable dis
satisfaction with some phases of the
report OF the Committee of Euro
pean economic Cooperation. as the
Parls Conference was called. and
some American officials have sug-
gested that 1t be reconvened to
tighten up" the requests for United
States help.
1t was learned today, however,
that most Of the members OF Secre-
tary OF State Marshalps interdepart-
mental committee now studying the
Parls report feel that nothing would
DO gained by q second conference
Just going around the track again"
as one official put 1t.
Time Big Factor.
The time schedule also makes a
second conference of questionable
value, most Of the American OFF,
clals feel, since the administration
expects to have at least an outline
OF Its program, based on the Paris
report, ready for the joint meeting
on November 10 Of the Senate For
eign Relations and the House
Foreign Affairs Committees.
After all," another American
omcial commented today, Imagine
what would happen If we Americans
had to draw up four-ysar pro-
gram Tor America in a few weeks
as the Europeans have done"
Meanwhile. promises that the 16
European nations would make
major effort to increase their pro-
ductlon came yesterday from two
top officials of the Paris meeting
Sir Oliver Franks, the Oxford Uni
vers1ty professor who served as the
conference chairman, put 1t In these
restrained British tones:
"A very considerable production
effort is called for by the participat-
ing nations"
HerVe Alphand. the French rap
porteur tchief drafting ofticer) of
the conference, put it with more
Gallo verve:
I'VE will make an enormous effort
In Europe to increase our produc-
ton"
But Mr.. Alphand told newspaper
men to whom he and Sir Oliver
talked that the economic situation
in Europe, especially in France and
Italy, is deterlorating fast and that
"1948 will be, in our view, the crucial
year" for help from the United
States. If adequate help is not
forthcoming from America next
year, he added, it will be infinitely
more difficult later to put the Mar |
shall Plan, or any other plan for
European recovery, into operation.
Sir Oliver, asked what might hap
pen If no help is voted by the Amer .
ican Congress, said the future of
Europe under that circumstance
would be quite unpredictable
The two officials of the Paris Con-
ference are in Washington with five
other members of the conference
committee to answer American ques-
tions about their request for aid.
For more than week, technicians
from the conference have been
meeting with American officials to
discuss details of the program. Sir
divers group met yesterday for the
first time with the Americans. He
said the opening discussion was gen.
eral and that every effort is being
made to supply additional informa-
ton sought by the United States.
The short-term relief needs of Eu-
rope are not being discussed in these
meetings, he pointed out.
So far, Sir Oliver said in reply to
question, none of the European
requests has definitely been scaled
down or rejected, although he con-
ceded there is some doubt on the !
part of the Americans about some
phases of the program. He said he
could not give any details.
Both men stressed the urgency of
the European situation. Sir Oliver
said events in "a number" of the 16
nations "are moving with almost
catastrophe speed"
Mr.. Alphand said that in spite of
all the statements by the enemies of
the Marshall Plan, we never felt
there was any dictation from the
United States, but only friendly
help
Mr.. Alphand pointed out that all
production of the Is nations, now at
around IS per cent of the prewar
level, would be raised to 100 per
rent in 1851 under the program. IN
dustrial production, now at 80 to 80
per cent of prewar, would 60 to l25
per cent.
Two major and uncertain premises
on which the Paris program was
based were brought out by oues-
tions from neWSpapermen:
l. The Paris report figured the
dollar cost of its needs ON the theory
that American prices would drop
by 1912 per cent in 1851 from what
they were last July l. If they con-
tinue rising, however, the cost to
the American taxpayer will be much