AMERICAN AID TO EUROPE: DISPATCH OF FIRST SHIPMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1948, Page 7

AMERICAN AID TO EUROPE: DISPATCH OF FIRST SHIPMENTS

LONDON, April 5. The first shipments of American goods under the European recovery programme are expected to- sail today. Commenting on the passage of the Foreign Aid Bill, The Times says: “If the Marshall Plan founders and Communist wreckers have their way it will be Europe’s fault. The task new is for the European countries, to respond with equal courage and yuS~ our to the great gesture of the United States.” The Manchester Guardian says; “The United States has risen to the occasion. It is now for the Western European nations to 'do no less.” The Daily Telegraph says: “The unexpected rapidity with which Congress has approved the European recovery programme has been , due to the mounting tempo of Russian aggression.” The Daily Express maintains its view that Britain should, have turned to the Empire instead of relying on the United States and says that Britain will have to “pay a price” for the benefits it receives. The Daily Herald says: “Though part of the Marshall aid will be on a loan basis, part will be free. The Marshall Plan was not devised—as it has been accused —for the splitting ol Europe. The aid was offered to all European nations. It was Russia and her associates who refused to join in and who proclaimed the doctrine ol “two camps.” The Communist Daily Worker says that the adoption of the European recovery programme “coincides with the growth of a deliberately fostered war hysteria,”