Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-09-11

on now are mere prelimlnaries to
will follow on September 10, when
representatives of all the Atlantic
pact countries will come to Wash
ington to create the machinery
for the distribution of money fol
the rearmament of Europe.
Insofar as Sir Stafford Grips
Britain's Chancellor Of the Ex-
chequer, is concerned the question
of saving the pound and improv-
ing Britains economic condition
by direct American support is the
only thing that matters. But in
sofar as Foreign Secretary Bevin
and his staff are concerned the
question of Britain's position in
the new politico-military Setup is
far more important and neces-
sarily linked with the economic
situation in his country.
Military Views
According to information from
official sources here and abroad
the British government wants to
take over the role of distributor
for the military aid program
London bases it's desire for this
role on the claim that it is in a
far better position to appraise the
manpower and fighting potential
of the Atlantic pact countries
than is the United States.
While our intelligence about
and direct contacts with every
European country have increased
and We now have - generally
speaking-a better understanding
of conditions across the Atlantic
we still cannot obtain as clear a
picture as can the British, with
their centuries old intelligence
services and keymen in every part
Of the continent.
In many respects, we are being
told. our investigators continue
to be amateurish and likely to
present an incomplete picture
when it comes to psychological
analysis - for instance of how
we'll the various countries receiv-
ing arms from us will be able tt
utilize them.
The British plan has not been
fayorably received, for the time
being, by the chiefs Of stats OF
the continental European armies
and particularly by the top-rank-
ing French military men-Gen
George Revers and Gen. Jean de
Lattre de Tassigny. They main
tain that in the defensive prep
arations provided by the Atlantic
pact it Is anticipated that CONT
mental Europeans will bear the
brunt Of an eventual Soviet at
tack.
The military men remind us
that Britain always looks after
herself first and they cite chapter
and verse on disagreements which
occurred in World Wars I and II.
To allow Britain to become the
distributor Of American arms not
only would slight Frances nation
al pride, but also would endanger
the full and complete collabora-
ton which is necessary these days.
Really Not Broke
The French have let it be
known here that they have no
objection to American generals
and admirals heading the new Or
ganization which will develop
after the conferences later this
month have ended.
They have indicated further
that they would favor Americans
taking complete charge of Atlantic
pact strategy. But they have
shown themselves adamant against
any overall British command, and
especially against Britain's in
tention to decide what and how
much each Atlantic pact nation
receives. from the American arse
nal.
Foreign Secretary Bevin, while
leaving these matters to the ex-
perts who will meet in Washing
ton after the economic parleys
have ended, unquestionably will
tackle the problem indirectly to
lay the foundation among our
diplomatic representatives for the
suggestions which the British will
make to those who disburse our
war material.
Meanwhile. the economic prob
lens OF Britain are not considered
by many of our top officials to be
as bad as they are being painted
by some spokesman for the Lon
don government. There is no ques-
ton that Britain has benefited less
from the support given her by the
United States than any other
European country. But few per-
sons subscribe to the fear that
unless something drastic and on a
large scale is done now Britain
will collapse.
Some persons represent Britain
as being broke. This is definite
overstatement. No nation ever