PLAN GAINING MOMENTUM ELSEWHERE

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1947, Page 5

PLAN GAINING MOMENTUM ELSEWHERE

Recoivod Mondav, 7.0 p.m. LOXDOX, June 16. The Tiines' diplomatic corre- ; spondent says a movement to make the most of Mr. Marshall's ol'l'er to help Europe is spread'mgand gathering 1'orce. Mr. Levin, as he proniised, has taken the initiative. The Freneh (jovernment warmly weleomed his proposal that he should go to 'Paris for immediate eonsultations. Mr. Bevin experts to spend June 16 with M. Kaiuadier, M. Bidault and their economic advisers. Eranee and other countries are already showing thei-r own ea.gerness to examine the projeet. Paris has niade the first direct approaeh to Moscow, asking whether the Soviet Government is disjTosed to exchange views on how best Europe rau respond.

It has been announced from The Hague that the Netherlands, B,elgium and Luxembourg have already considered the American off'er. The Governments of other countries are watching, waiting and considering. The correspondent continued I that all that ean be done at tlie momenf i-s to e'xchange tentative opinions and therein lies their supreme value. The Marshall projeet is still vague, being deliberately kept so on the American side. Conveniently called an "offer", it is much more of a challenge to European statesmanship ancl that is how Mr. Bevin regards it. Ile is approaching the task with an absolutely -ojren mind, excduding no method of conjsultation and excluding no country from that eonsultation. The Uno 'Economic Commission for Europe, representing 19 nations. will probably at a later stage, be associated with the plan. The Times, in a leading article, says the terms of the American offer inevitably suggest a parallel with tliose of the lease-lend agreement. That ''most unsordid aet" is apparently not to stand alone. Lend-lease extended its powe-iTul arm in aid to all who fought Ilitler. The aid which United States once more promises without discrimination, will be available to all in Europe including the Soviet Union who will help del'eat the new enemy — postwar distress. The Secretary of State. Mr. G. C. Marshall, told a press conference that when he ma.de lus speech at Harvard on May 5 nrging European nations to .get together in some way to restofe Europe 's economy he meant to include both Britain and Russia and cverything west of Asia. Mr. Marshall said that Mr. Churchill 's scheme lor a .United States of Europe had influenced him in develo])ing the idea that Europeans .should wo.rh out their own economic r.ecovery plans, but that the United States .should extend financial help to carry t.hem tbrough. He emphasised that the initiative must come from Eui'ope, and he made it clear that he would not make any further statements on the subject or make any diplomatic approaeh to European nations until they themselves ]*esponded to his proposals.