Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-11-15
Plan for Stronger u. 5,
Economy Studied TO
Support European Aid
Survey Of Resources
In Oil, Cos and Cool
Called First Step
Bv Doris FIeeSon

President Truman's official family
accepted the Marshall Plan without
demur: Some OF its more reflective
members, however, have coupled
their Endorsement with plea for a
Truman plan at home to strengthen
the American economy and increase
its productivity.
Their thesis is that some such
hand finland effort must be made
il this country is long to sustain the
burdens placed on it by the far
reaching program to rehabllitate
Western Europe.
The discussions which have been
taken directly to the President are
still In the general proposal stage. 1t
is hoped by their advocates that
they will generate interest and
finally blueprint for action in the
same way that the suggestions put
forward by Gen. Marshall at Har-
ward are now evolving into a con-
crete plan.
Reported Outline.
inner administration circles report
that Truman-for America converse
tons run something like this:
The first obvious step is survey
of United States resources IN oil,
gas and coal, with accompanying
suggestions on how these can be
conserved, augmented and-if neceS-
sary-replaced by substitutes. No
survey of what We have left Of our
coal has been made since 1910. Nor,
according to official sources and
despite an ocean of talk, has any
real progress been made toward de-
termining and assessing our posi-
ton on strategic minerals.
The world of synthetics and sub
stitutes of every kind must be
opened up for reasons Of national
defense as we'll as for future reserves
to back up our private economy
when and as it starts to run out OF
raw materials.
Coking Resources Checked.
This kind Of thing actually is 60
ing on in a limited way ny agree
ment between Government bureaus
and private industry-the example
Is offered of the coking resources en-
which the great Kaiser steel plant
at Fontana and U. S. Steel at
Geneva depend. Interiors experts
had discovered present supplies were
running out But Interior had no
funds to prosecute the search for
new ones. So Kaiser and U. S. Steel
have put up $125,000 each to make
that search.
In a general way, the proposed
Truman plan advocates the line laid
down by the sage B. M. Baruch
That elder statesman-nicknamed
DR.. Facts by Woodrow WilSCn-has
patiently, and it must be sale
largely without result, warned that
this country must revaluate its own
strength and weakness before 1t en-
barks on gaudy career OF promising
the world.
Political Hazards.
It Is recognized by veterans Of the
Washington scene that political haz-
ards adhere to a domestic Truman
plan that the Marshall Plan lacks
With a whoop and holler, every
body, including the Nationa. Associ-
alton of Manufacturers, plugs for
regimenting the Western European
economy to meet our specifications
before we extend aid. 1t is taken
for granted it's their duty to organ
lie their business in manner best
calculated to attain the ends we both
seek.
It is interesting to note that such
planning" in disrepute ne-e OF late
to the point that you must smile
when you call man New Dealer,
has been blandly accepted III foreign
policy. A Marshall plan is appar-
entity true and righteous altogether
it applies to foreigners.
But no hazards scare Truman
planners. They are more scared OF
a blind take-off into uncharteo