Evening star., 1948-03-07
Stokes
Continued From Page C-1.)

as chief spearhead of Russian ag-
gression in Western Europe.
Other factors in the national
plight were wholesale looting by the
Nazis, grave war damage, bad
weather, shortage of labor, raw ma
terials and fertilizers, and in par
ticular a steep rise of foreign trade
deficits which compelled France to
liquidate $4,000 100000 of its capital
resources. 1t has already obtained
$2026 100000 in credits from the
United States, and is to receive ST.
434, 600, 900 more as its first Marshall
Plan allotment.
Tribute to French Courage
In view of these difficulties, there
is tribute to French courage and
steadfastness in an official report
that the general index of industrial
production rose in 1947 to 102 per
cent of the prewar level. In some
ields-such as electricity, the metal
working and glass industries and
chemicals-the figures of increase
ranged from 101 to 1870. This was Off
set by a decline Of consumer goods
output and so low a production of
food that only American help avert
ed catastrophe.
Despite tribulations worse than
those of France, Italy managed by
desperate effort to push its indus
trial production up to 80 per cent of
the 1888 level during the third quar-
ter of 1947. But the record was
struck down by strikes fomented by
Communists In obedience to Mos
cows command that the recovery
program must be wrecked. Like
France, Italy is plagued by short
age OF raw materials and fuel, de-
cline of food output and foreign
trade deficits. 1t bears the added
burden Of excessive overpopulation.
The initial Marshall Plan estimate
Tor Italy is S0b9 ,OUU,OOU.
| After allowance for bomb damage,
the war left Western Germany with
an operable industrial plant greater
than that Of 1896. Daily coal pro-
duction in the Ruhr-Aachen district
rose from $4,000 tons in 1946 to
100000 tons in November, 1947. With
factories, manpower and skills at
hand, the industrial restoration of
Western Germany is regarded as
thoroughly practicable. But to get
on its feet the area requires large
scale supplies of food and raw ma
tertals, responsible currency and
stable government.
Lowest on the Scale
Western Germany, Greece anc
Austria, lowest in the scale of we'll
being and the most depressed econ
omies in Europe, exhibit to an
extreme the components of disaster.
All are subject to intensive Com
munist pressure, which In Greece
has mounted to civil war. Germany
and Greece underwent fearful war
devastation. Eastern Austria has
been mercilessly plundered by the
Soviets. The government of Greece
Is dubious; Germany and Austria
are distracted by warning occupa-
ton regimes.
| It is reckoned that Austria, If let
alone, would be steady politically
and develop sound economy. West
ern Germany is held capable OF
industrial output that in time would
balance its imports Of food and
materials. But recovery for Greece,
always the neediest country in
Europe, Is expected to be a long
and difficult process. Fifteen-month
quotas under the Marshall Plan are
as follows: Western Germany, in
clxding the French zone and Saar,
81 ,005 500 600; Greece, s186,000,0 900,
and Austria, $4,000, 900.
To sum up, three of the Marshall
Plan countries require no more thar
ALLEGATIONS of imports, for which
they can pay. Eight need only
marginal assistance. The next three,
which were formerly great powers.
have struggled valiantly to climb
erect, but will demand strong sup
port for several years until they
are able once more to walk alone,
Western Germany. Austria and
Greece range from tragic to all but
hopeless.
| By Special Advancement with the
| at. Louis Post-Dtspatch)