Evening star., 1948-01-02

amount-17 billions.
This feeling exists despite Re.
publican predictions that by the
time tho plan gets through 1t will
be unrecognizable: despite the petty
not to say silly. points raised by the
Buffers, Wherrys End Dworshaks ir
the Senate and men like Jonkmar
in the House, and notwithstanding
the ugly nature Of the hostile
propaganda beginning to make Its
appearance. This confidence Il
based on five things: "a the
appalling urgency Of the situa-
tion with which we are confronted;
(2) the overwhelming strength OF
the arguments for the Marshall
plan; 90 the degree to which we al
ready are committed and our ma
tional honor as well as self respect
involved: a. the catastrophe con-
sequences of failure to act; 60
the personal character Of General
Marshall and the extraordinary
esteem in which he is held by the
American people. 80
=. Main Provisions Sure.
However, regardless Of the vio-
lence OF the opposition and the
certainty that the setup which gives
the operating head responsibility
without authority will be (and
should fbe) changed, there is every
expectation that the main features
Of the plan will 60 through. OF the
five reasons given above for this
faith the last is by no means the
least. Actually, the personality Of
George G. Marshall lends tremen-
dous persuasiveness to the plan not
only in Congress but among the
people as q whole, despite the fact
that the Gallup polls indicate more
than 10 per cent Of them have no
idea what 1t Is all about.
It is true the labor bosses, prac-
tically all the presidential aspirants
and most Of the politicians are for
its objectives. It is true informed
popular sentiment Is overwhelm-
ingly for it. 1t Is true, too, the atti-
tude and support Of Senator Van
denberg are enormously helpful In
this fight. Nevertheless. it IS the
complete Identification Of the plan
with General Marshall that is in
dispensable to its success. without
him, its chances would be poor.
With him, 1t is almost inconceivable
It can fail. It Is his SponSorShip
which removes from the proposal
all vestige Of politics and partisan
ship. How wise now seems his state
ment nearly q year ago, emphati-
cally stamping himself as utterly
unavailable for any elective ofice
under any conditions. This 1t is that
stands him out as the one public
man in the country wholly free Of
all personal ambition and with no
possible ak to grind.
Inspires Public Support.
This 1t Is that gives him the con-
fidence Of the people to q degree no
other man in the Nation has.
Even those who do not understand
the Marshall plan understand that
here is man who loves his country
and Is serving 1t with complete un-
selfishness in the most arduous and
difficult Job any Secretary Of State
ever undertook, requiring great pa
tience, wisdom and fortitude, posses
sion Of which qualities he has evi-
denced in q singularly impressive.
way. The plan which he has pro-
posed is not only noble In conception
and In the highest American tradi-
ton, but 1t 50 completely meets
every practical test that, except for
Mr.. Wallace, the Communists, the
left-wing crackpots and the incur
able isolationists, the opposition In
the country is negligible. No I'M
portant leader In either party op-
poses the principle or the objectives
Of the plan. They differ as to de-
tails, but they agree that while risk
Is involved in this great adventure,
the risks of refusing to take 1t are
greater.
The danger is that in the wrangle
,ver details the final shape Of the
plan may be altered and its enact
nent 80 delayed that effectiveness
will be diminished, and both costs
md risks devastatingly increased.
rhere is certain to be lot Of bit
;erness Fengendered by the debate
md there are q few individuals
n Congress eager to 60 to ex-