INITIATIVE MUST COME FROM EUROPE

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1947, Page 5

INITIATIVE MUST COME FROM EUROPE

MR. BEVIN'S REMINDER Received Tuesday, 12.10 p.m. PARIS, June 30. Addressing the evening session of the Three Power conference, Mr. Bevin said: "I feel that the time has come to decide whether or not,

and in which form, we shall establish an organisation to frame a joint European programme as Mr. Marshall has suggested. I remind you that Mr. Marshall said the initiative must come from Europe and the programme should be jointly agreed to by a number, if not all, European nations. I am convinced that the programme must not leave out two points — the requirements of Europe and the part European countries will take in European reconstruction. "We must show, to jus ify our requirements, how far European countries can carry out a programme from their own resources Dy voluntary co-operation, and to what extent these resources need to be supplemented by and from the United States. I am sure 'there is :no possibility of the United States giving support to my programme unless .in its design it is manifest that it will ultimately produce a solvent and prosperous Europe. "There is, of course, no question of Mr. Marshall's suggested European programme setting aside individual naaonal plans or overriding the sovereignty of any coun-a-y, large or small." Britain's Purpose Mr. Bevin said that Britain's purpose was to bring the various material programmes tcgether so that individual countries' requirements could be viewed as a whole The Saviet delegation had wished to deal only with the requirements of European countries and not with the part European' countries could take in promoting European recovery. He did not think help would be forthcoming from the Uni;ed States under the Soviet proposals. The British plan covered increased production and mutual assistance between European countries, details of the assistance European countries would need and suggested machinery for these purposes. Mr. Bevin said the Russian .plan was tantamount tos asking ihe United States for a blank cheque, and asked how Russia would react to a similar req-uest. He assured the Russians that Britain knew nothing of American intentions apart from what had been published. He said no European coumry could exist economically on its own. The conference was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon.