U.S. SUPPORT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22374, 5 July 1947, Page 5

U.S. SUPPORT

BRITAIN AND FRANCE MOSCOW OPPOSES PLAN LONDON, July 3. Authoritative sources at Washington reported that Mr. Marshall has sent his views to Mr. Bevin and M. Bidault on the situation arising from the breakdown of the Big Three Conference in Paris and is understood to have made it plain that lie is fully behind Britain and France in their effort to _ rally Europe to support his plan without Soviet co-operation He also conveyed his belief that a workable scheme could be developed which, if not as desirable as a total continental programme, would be more acceptable to the United States Government than the present unorganised approach to Europe’s problems. The Moscow radio said today that the United States economic aid “served as a pretext for the British and French Governments to insist on establishing an organisation dominating European countries and interfering in their affairs.”

All the Moscow papers stressed that M. Molotov’s argument that the French proposal was similar to the British proposal in foreshadowing the drawing up of an economic programme for Europe, although the majority of European nations have no all-embrac-ing programmes of their own.” Madrid is delighted over the collapse of the Paris talks, states the British United Press correspondent in Madrid. The Russian withdrawal is regarded as a vindication of Spain’s anti-Soviet stand. The people see in it a chance of improved relations with the Western Powers. Declaring that Italy will participate in the Marshall plan, the Italian Foreign Office spokesman said that an inter-Ministerial committee will hold its first meeting on July 7 to work out the details to be forwarded to the other participating nations of Italy’s needs and ability to contribute.

plan meant interference in the affairs of small States. Political Fusion Avoided In Berlin, Lieut.-Gencral Lucius Clay, commander of the U.S. zone in Germany, said: “I hope the Paris failure has not added to the difficulties _of unifying Germany, but anything which makes that more difficult tends to bring political fusion closer in the AijgloAmerican approach to the German problem.” , „ ... , Lt. General Clay said the British and United States Military Governments had avoided political fusion because they were apprehensive that it might be conducive to v division of Germany. No development was at present contemplated. _ , Reuter’s correspondent _in Budapest says that Hungarian politicians refused to comment on the Bevin-Bidault invitation. They stated they would clarify Hungary’s position when they actually received the invitation. M. Sulyok, leader of the Freedom Party said: “If the great Powers cannot reach an agreement it will be tragic for Hungary.” . . Switzerland’s acceptance of the invitation is regarded as a foregone conclusion, says Reuter’s correspondent in Berne. Officials, however, pointed out that Switzerland’s co-operation in the reconstruction of Europe would be solely in the technical, financial and industrial fields and not in the political field. The officials added: /‘Our policy of uncompromising neutrality must remain the guiding factor in all international dealings and must on no account be jeopardised.” . The Daily Express correspondent in Moscow says that great food-growing regions of Eastern Europe are likely to remain outside Mr. Marshall’s plan, thereby increasing Western Europe s dependence on American food _ shipments. If after the harvest Russia and Poland stated exactly what they had available for export it would affect the price they could demand. That was why Mr. Marshall’s idea that the European States should disclose their economic balance sheet as the price of American aid is regarded in _ Moscow as wildly impracticable. Russia is not desperate for dollars and she is confident that, as America’s unsaleable surpluses pile up she will be hearing from United States businessmen.

Sources close to the French Premier, M. Ramadier, said he anticipated a fullscale Communist attack against the Government through a new wave of strikes and every powerful propaganda means, but he felt he could hold the cabinet intact at least until October, says the Associated Press correspondent in Paris. M. Ramadier said he hoped the plan, meanwhile would be so tar advanced that it would resist anything like a Cabinet crisis.