U.S. AID FOR EUROPE

Grey River Argus, 20 June 1947, Page 5

U.S. AID FOR EUROPE

WILL SOVIET ASSIST BRITAIN’S CONCERN TO SAVE DOLLARS (Received June 19, 6.30 p.m.). WASHINGTON June 18. Russia should try to make some positive contribution to Secretary of State General Marshall’s Continental plan, by sending; food and raw materials to certain European countries, said the Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Mr William Clavton, to-day. . i . . He said the State Department had received reports oi excellent grain crops in Russia this year. However, there was no evidence at present that Russia was willing to make this contribution.

Mr Clayton’s remarks are interpreted to mean that Russia would not qualify as a recipient country under General Marshall’s plan, but that she rather should be a provider. Mr Clayton said that the United States Government considered the United Nations Economic Council for Europe would be an excellent agency for integrating the ideas and plan? of the European countries for using the American aid. The State Department favoured a suggestion made last week by Senator Vandenberg that a bi-partisan council be established, in the United States, to study the strength of the American resources, and the extent to which the United States could safely contribute to Europe’s recovery. Mr Clayton said that all of the reactions the United States has received from abroad to the Marshall plan were extremely favourable. The Anglo-French discussions, now proceeding, seemed the logical way to begin to implement the European aspects of the plan. He emphasised, however, that statements made by General Marshall and other State Department members should not be mistaken for indications of a complete new lend-lease programme. It wasup to the European countries to agree, among themselves, what was needed.

BRITAIN'S IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

Mr Clayton said that he would discuss in London next week, with Rt. Hon. Dr Dalton, Sir Stafford Cripps, and other members of the British Government, a possibility that Britain might be placing new' restrictions on her imports soon, so as to conserve her dwindling dollar resources. He said that, under the terms of the Anglo-American loan agreement, such import restrictions must be non-dis-criminatory. He added that he particularly wanted to persuade Sir Stafford Cripps to return to the Geneva Trade Conference.