Evening star., 1949-07-10

taking stock of our ability to con-
tinue such a policy. They wonder
how long we will be able to dis
pense billions Of dollars without
seriously impairing our political
and economic structure.
Billions were appropriated fol
our Allies during the war. AL
though a number of CongresSmer
realized that some Of that money
was going down rathole-we
were particularly lavish with the
U. S. s. r., which ordered al
kinds of materials which wera
never used in the war against the
Germans-they voted every ap'
preparation requested, lest refusa
affect our final victory.
A similar frame of mind-the
fear that misguided economy
might jeopardize victory pre-
vailed among congressman wher
the administration frequently
asked for billions to stabilize eco
nomic and political conditions ir
countries devastated by the war.
Patriotism Injected
Every legislator believed that
each new request" would be the
last and voted in favor of all the
schemes put forward by the ad-
ministration. It was not patri-
otic, they were told, to refuse a
comparatively small amount when
1t could start the wheels Of re-
covery.
Thus Secretary of State Ache
son, when he was Assistant Sec
retary, used convincing arguments
to induce a somewhat reluctant
Congress to appropriate over ST.
000, 100000 for UNRRA. The OBJ
jective of that international or
ganization-to which we con-
tributed about 80 per cent of its
working capital-Was to restore
the economy of the war-devas-
tated nations and at the same
time to bring about political con-
solidation on the basis of democ-
racy and freedom.
UNRRA was, by and large, a
failure. 1t did help some coun-
tries to stave off starvation tenn
porarily. But it was grossly mis-
used in those countries which now
are behind the iron curtain. In
fact the American taxpayer was
Instrumental In the establishment
of totalitarian governments in
those countries. American goods
were marked Made in Russia, "
thus increasing the prestige of the
Soviet among its victims.
There was a short interlude be-
tween liquidation of UNRRA and
the start of the gigantic Marshall
Plan, which involves at least $20,-
900, 100000. More may be neces-
sary If conditions in Western Eu-
rope do not improve sufficiently.
In this interlude, besides unseen
expenditures-such as continua-
ton Of lend-lease to some coun-
tries-only one major project,
which was small financially but
important politically, was put up
10 Congress.
Billions for ERP
In March, 1947, when Russia
appeared to be on rampage,
President Truman asked for ap-
propriations to support militarily
and economically the tottering
Greek government and the threat
lned Turks. 1t seemed then that
unless some immediate support
we're given these two outposts of
The Western world in the Eastern
Mediterranean, Greece would fall
Easy prey to the Communists,
while Turkey would have to fight
\ losing war against the Red ar
mics, which then were being con-
sentrated in the Caucasus. So far
! little more than half a billion
iollars has been spent in those
wo countries, and the end Is not
ret in sight.
In 1947 1t became evident to the
administration in Washington that
unless something pretty big in the
way of support was offered to
Europe, the whole continent might
tall into the lap of the Kremlin.
The Marshall Plan was conceived
o prevent such a disaster.
Our State Department experts
informed Gen. Marshall that the
eeling of insecurity which pre-
Sailed everywhere in Europe was
aue to hopeless economic condi-
kions, and that unless we took
me necessary remedial steps the
defeat of the Axis would be an
,mpty victory for us.
The original plan for what later
became the European Recovery
Program embraced all countries
which would be willing to dip into
he pockets of the American tax
payer. 1t was open not only to
the iron curtain satellites but to
the U. s. S. r. as we'll. If all
those countries participated it was
estimated that the yearly outlay
might be upward of 1000, ,000, 900.
Later, after v. M. Molotov. then
Russian Foreign Minister. turned
down our proposal at Paris in the
hummer Of 1947, the State Depart
ment hinted that the offer was
made to all countries in order to
force the Kremlin to show its
hand.
Most of the European countries
outside the iron curtain began to
receive ERP funds which in the
first year amounted to $5,000,00
600. But no sooner had they
begun to show positive results in
economic recovery than we realized
that this alone was not what was
troubling the Old World.