Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1947.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1947.

Task Of Recoiistructipri |T is becoming. increasingly apparent that Britain’s earlier hopes, that the Marshall aid-for-Europe J?l an would be instituted in time to. help in tiding her over the extremely critical period immediately following the exhaustion of the American loan later this year, will not be realised. TheJVlarshall proposals originally laid down the salutary condition that an overall programme of reconstruction should be devised, and not merely separate national schemes. That has been made an impracticable condition so far as Europe as a whole is concerned because of the flat refusal of the Soviet to have anything to do with what it has been pleased to describe as “American capitalist penetration.” This attitude has had repercussions so wide that delay in implementing the Marshall plan in the limited sphere of AVestern Europe is inevitable. It is clearly impossible to plan the rebuilding of the Continent on a satisfactory basis without providing for the reconstruction of Germany, whose production is essential to the well-being of her neighbours.. However loth they may be to do so, the Allies must recognise that nature and history have combined to make Germany, with her 70,000,000 skilful and industrious workers, her advanced industrial technique and her extensive natural resources, the true economic heart of Europe. In the two years since the war ended, the Allies have signally failed to make use of these resources for the common benefit. Not only have they lacked a consistent and workable economic policy, but the zones of occupation have, on the contrary, developed into separate administrative areas, effectively defeating the establishment of the coherent unified direction essential to any broad economic programme. The Russians have dropped the iron curtain on the boundary of their zone, establishing a closed economic frontier and cutting off the main food-supply area of Germany on -which the industrial west normally depends. No Alternative

Russia’s action leaves the Western nations no alternative but to push ahead without her on the urgent task of reconstruction. the successful completion of which as early as practicable would bring substantial relief to Britain’s economic position. The one consoling feature of Russian non-participation, indeed, is that it should enable a speeding-up of consultations between States which, as Mr Bevin has put it, share a common standard of values. While Soviet co-operation was invited, and would still be welcomed, the constant necessity for debate and compromise. of views basically opposed would undoubtedly cause long delays. But if planning for the economic integration of western Europe can be proceeded with in the absence of Russia, the active support of France is essential. Paris, London and Washington are not at present in agreement on the question of the future of the Ruhr, which remains sunk in a condition verging on complete moral and physical collapse. Nowhere in Germany has the population been reduced to more desperate straits, particularly in respect of food which if artificial barriers were lowered would come from the zone under Russian control. Divergence of views between the Western Powers on the Ruhr question, as well as on the part to be played by German industry in any cooperative scheme, is a possible stumbling block, but, given goodwill and good sense, it should not be difficult to evolve a generally acceptable formula. The clear call to Europe today is to sink its differences for the common good. The prize for success is the opportunity to rebuild what the war tore down; the penalty for failure is continuing want and misery. An overall Allied plan can provide a lasting solution to Europe’s crisis; it can also help in a substantial measure the relief of Britain’s present difficulties.