Evening star., 1948-03-01

ate's historic debate in order to in
clude this warning. His text was
based on the premise that the re-
covery plan would stop World War
III before it starts" and protect
United States interests.
After calling attention to favor
able report the committee made two
weeks ago on the European recovery
bill recommending four years of
American aid to 16 Western Euro
pean countries to combat the
further spread of communism, Sen
ator Vandenberg quoted the COM
mittees statement that the existing
situation in Europe endangers
lasting peace.
Object Lessons Since Then.
Then he inserted this last-minute
observations:
Every Senator knows that these
dangers are even greater than they
were when those words were written
only two short weeks ago. The fate
of Czechoslovakia, where any SEM
blance of democracy has just been
gutted by subversive conquest, un-
derscores this solemn thesis.
THE kindred fate of brave little
Finland may be added to the omin-
Gus score this very afternoon even
while we debate an axiom, namely,
that aggressive communism threat
ems all freedom and all security,
whether in the Old World or the
new, when it puts free peoples any
where in chains"
Senate leaders have predicted
that approval of the aid bill may
come by March Is.
Republicans Prepare Cuts.
Vigorously, Senator Vandenberg
defended the action of his committee
in recommending $500 900 900 for
loans and grants in the bill during
the first year, starting April l. Each
succeeding Congress would decide
the rate of expenditure thereafter.
Even as he spoke, one group of
skeptical Republicans was preparing
to seek a cut to $500, 100000 or
$4,000, ,OO0,O 600. Informal surveys in
eicate the move will not succeed.
Senator Vandenberg lost no time
In warning those who disagree with
him that they cannot escape the
realities of the present world Sit
uation merely by rejecting or SUBJ
verting this plan"
The Michigan Senator, who has
taken a leading role in swinging
the Republicans away from prewar
isolationism, called the pending ad-
ministration bill "a plan for peace,
stability and freedom" He offered
M rash promises of results, but
made clear his belief there is less
risk for America in taking this step
than there would be in abandoning
Western Europe.
Asserting that the European Re-
eoverv program involves the clear
self interest of the United States,
Senator Vandenberg closed on this
dramatic note:
TT can be the turning point in
history for one hundred years to
come, If it fails, we have done our
finar best. If it succeeds, our chill
dren and our children's ch1idren VIII
cali MS blessed. May God grant HIS
benediction upon the ultimate
event.
Russia's Attitude Plain.
Senator Vandenberg minced no
words In discussing Russia's attl-
tude toward the Marshall Plan. he
said the nations which met at PARIS
to draw up the plan had to DO so
in virtual defiance OF the RUSSIAN
bear, which promptly showed It's
teeth"
Within four weeks, he recalled,
the Russian Cominform was organ
lied as a modern version OF the
supposedly defunct world organlza-
tion aimed Comintern. This organ
tzation, he said, frankly calls upon
Communists everywhere to wreck
the Marshall Plan and condemns
tt~and us with q new intemperance
of invective and distortion. 1t is
indeed cold war"
The Vandenberg speech sparkled
with lines which suggested an at
titude of firmness toward Russia,
and a determination not to let West
ern Europe collapse. Here are
samples:
THE iron curtain must not come
So T0PETCN AID. PAGE A-6J