Evening star., 1948-09-10
Hoffman fayors Ban
.Dn ECk Aid 10 Fascist
Counterpart Of Reds
By Chalmers M. Roberts

fVts tNSbSbt@
Economic Cooperation Ad-
ministrator Paul Hoffman said
Today Marshall Plan aid would
sbe denied to a Fascist counter
part of a Communist govern
nent" In Europe. In reply to a
huestion he said he did not con-
slider the De Gaullist movement
In France Fascist" II
~ Mr.. Hoffman made the statement
At a press conference at which he
said he was confident the Western
European nations and representa-
tives of Bizonal Germany would soon
Agree on a division of ECA funds
+ for the first year of the Marshall
Plan. Paris reports earlier today
indicated an agreement already has
been worked out, but Mr.. Hoffman
said he had not been so Informed.
He said he expected to receive
the detailed first year program for
kEEuropean recovery by October /, but
Eythat it will be subject to review by
sxECA. Chief argument has been over
kthe amount Of aid for Germany.
a Asked About De Gaulle.
q During a discussion of the gov
5zernmental crisis in France, where
Gen. Charles De Gaulle, who has
been denounced by Communists as a
Fascist, has called for new general
election, Mr.. Hoffman was asked If
he would approve ECA aid for that
nation if it were to go either to the
extreme right or left politically. He
retorted:
What you're asking me is, do I
think De Gaulle is going to win IN
France?"
He said he could not answer such
q question since elections had not
yet been called, but pointed out that
the foreign aid law specifically calls
for cutting off aid to any nation
which goes Communist. Then he
added that '"if a Fascist counter
part of a Communist government
took over, my action would be the
same
Spirit Called Encouraging.
He quickly added, however, that
he did not think there Is "the re-
motest possibility of such an oc-
currence in France. He said he
most certainly" does not consider
the party of Gen. De Gaulle a
fascist" or "totalitarian" group.
In discussing the recent argument
among the Western nations making
up the Organization for European
Cooperation" Mr. Hoffman said
differences of opinion were quite
to be expected" He said the spirit
of working together by the 18 ma
tions was most encouraging and
he added that if a final agreement
was worked out among the nations
with good will toward each other"
the result may be an event of con-
siderable historic significance.
Mr.. Hoffman said he had in every
case of an appeal received from the
European nations in regard to the
division of funds passed the problem
back to the Paris Conference and
w. Averell Hartman, ECA ambas-
sador -at-large. He read reporters
the statement Mr.. Hartman made
. in Paris yesterday that he was cat
egorically confident that the OEEC
Council is going to get together" on
the question. The council is meet
ing today to consider the recommen-
dation of its steering committee.
Details of Program Delayed.
The American spokesman in Ger
many, Gen. LuciuS D. Clay, is re-
ported to have asked $465, 900, 900
IN Marshall Plan funds for the year
ending next June. The Western
European nations, however, are re-
ported to have assigned the Bizone
about $10O,000,OOO less before a CON-
promise between the two figures was
agreed on.
The disagreement has delayed the
detailed European Recovery Pro-
gram. The original target date was
September l, but has now been
moved to october 1.
Mr.. Hoffman said Bizonal Ger
many was looked on by ECA as only
one of the participating nations and
that its representative In the OEEC
Council has absolutely no veto"
ECA also announced today that
group of American industrialists,
headed by President George M.
Humphry of the M. A. Hanna Co.
of Cleveland, has been set up to ad-
wise him on dismantling of German
industrial plants for reparations.
Basic in the disagreement over
funds for Germany has been the
fear, chiefly in France, that the
Marshall Plan will be used to re-
build Germany industry up to a
point where it will once more be
q war threat.
Oficials in the Washington ECA
headquarters have tried to keep a !
hands-off attitude in the fight, leav-
ing the European nations to work
out a compromise,