The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1947. PREPARING FOR SPECIAL U.S. CONGRESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22484, 13 November 1947, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1947. PREPARING FOR SPECIAL U.S. CONGRESS

JT is most unlikely that the United States Congress will fail to grasp the basic truth that America cannot gain peace or prosperity alone and that she must help the distressed nations of Europe to get on their feet Although there may be amendments to the Marshall Plan, the general appeal by its sponsor will not go unheard during the meeting of the special Congress session next week. The American attitude was expressed with probable accuracy in a recent editorial in the Christian Science Monitor, which stated : “The Americans will respond to three things: 1. To evidence of human distress. No people are more generous in the desire to help, once the need is seen. 2. To the threat of totalitarian expansion. Ready acceptance of the Truman Doctrine for places so remote as Greece and Turkey indicates that Americans will never abandon the far more vital and stronger bastions of democracy in Western Europe. 3. The need of the United States productive machine to find markets abroad. Today Western Europe is buying from America much of the food it once got behind the 'iron curtain.’ A sudden drop in Europe’s purchases of wheat, cotton, meat and other farm products would he quickly felt by Congressmen with farmer constituents. And not a few manufactured items could be added.” Mr. Marshall’s request for 597,000,000 dollars stop-gap aid for the ex-enemy countries Italy and Austria, as well as France, to cover their needs between now and March 3.1, 1948, may arouse opposition. Britain and France are certainly more vital to the democratic front in Europe than Italy, but the conclusion will probably he formed that no part of Europe can lightly he surrendered to poverty and chaos. The calling of a special Congress sitting could not have been an easy one for President Truman to make, but no doubt he will have been sure of support from Congressmen who have toured Europe and seen for themselves the plight of its people and. who will convince the doubters at home of a situation calling for immediate attention. The remarks of Mr. Marshall this week were made to a joint session of the House and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees which met as a preliminary to next Avcek’s full Congress. It Avas obvious that the sooner Congress Avas given facts and figures on the actual position in Europe the better. There Avas sound reason for getting the Marshall Plan someAvhat more clearly shaped before asking Congress to approve it. There Avas also a strong case for bringing Congress in early on the shaping, so that it could feel a sense of partnership in the task. Another advantage of the special session is that suspicions of “politics” can be brought out into the open and proved or disproved by Congressmen themselves. European countries, for their part, will no doubt welcome a frank examination of the feeling among some Americans that Europe is not doing enough to help itself. The essence of the Marshall Plan is helping those Avho help themselves. Congress.is bound to look at the eAudence on this point. It Avill probably, insist that no, unnecessary demands are made and. that American aid Avill be as Avisely and effectively used as possible. But even if not completely satisfied, it will find in the end that it is wiser to furnish aid than to risk collapse and the consequent inroads of communism. Many Americans are recognising that Avhat is now needed is a belated extension of lend-lease. The United States came out of the Avar stronger and more prosperous than ever. Many of its allies—and best customers—had their productive equipment largely destroyed in the common Avar effort. It is only right and fair iioav that America should help them back to prosperity.