Evening star., 1947-05-10
To Head OFF Chaos

secretary OF state AcheSon has out
lined a positive American program
to cope with a world situation
threatening to develop into crisis
OF the most dangerous kind. The
trouble is both political and eco
nomic. If it is to be dealt with
adequately, the United States will
have to take extraordinary action.
Some informed observers suggest
that we may find it necessary, within
a matter of months, to launch
peacetime version of lend-leaSe. Mr..
Acheson does not 60 that far. He
does make clear, however, that our
projected aid to Greece and Turkey
now approved by both houses Of
Congress-is likely to be but small
beginning.
The situation has been brought
about by many factors. First of all
in the case of Europe, including
Britain-the tremendous wreckage
of the war has created recon-
struction problem of unprecedented
dimensions and complexities. The
primary need is to restore produc-
tive capacity as rapidly as possible.
To do this, however, such vital con-
ditions as these must be met:
% There must be a peace settle
ment under which Germany's indus
trial economy will be revived and
controlled to serve the whole Euro
pean economy without inviting the
return Of German militarism; and
(2 there must be a vast flow of raw
materials and equipment from the
United States, the only country in
the world now capable of turning
out the flow. But action on condi-
ton No. l has been blocked to date
by Russia. AS for condition No. 2,
the lands starving for things from
us cannot get any, or can get only
a small part of them, either because
they lack gold or are short OF dollars
or otherwise wanting in the where
withal to pay for imports from us.
This is an oversimplification of
the factors involved, but it is enough
to illustrate the gravity of the prob
lem. II no action Is taken, Europe
will suffer creeping economic
paralysis. That in turn-and the
same holds true for Asia-will in
tensify social and political unrest
and create an atmosphere conducive
to the further advance OF totali-
tarianism, chiefly the Communist
brand. Accordingly, Mr.. Acheson
has proposed that the United States
adopt the following program: ID
Greatly increase It's imports from
antitotalitarian lands, and make
large additional loans to them, to
give them dollars to buy what they
sorely need from us; (2) accord top
priority" to aid for peoples seeking
to preserve their independence and
democratic institutions from totah-
tartan pressures; 90 maintain ex-
port controls that could be used to
bar American shipments to totali-
tartan countries; and "a push
ahead"-with or without Russia-to
revitalize the German and Japanese
economies in order to promote the
recovery and stability of as much of
Europe and Asia as possible.
These are far-reaching proposals,
all open to debate. But in making
them Mr.. Acheson, in effect, has
confirmed warnings from other
quarters that there will be a deadly
smashup overseas unless the United
States takes bold preventive meas
ures. The situation bears directly
on our own peace and prosperity.
America cannot be safe and well of
II the rest of the world suffers
collapse and upheaval. The signs
indicate that we shall have to make
historic decisions talong this line in
the months Immediately ahead. The
fateful question is whether we will
make them wisely and on time.