PRAISE AND CRITICISM

Chronicle (Levin), 22 December 1947, Page 5

PRAISE AND CRITICISM

(N.Z.P.A.-

- Reuter ,

Press Reaction To Recovery Programme

Copyright)

iteceiveu rtuuuav, i.ii p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 20. Reactions to the Kuropean recovery programme detailed by President Tru•man range from warm praise by newspapers such as the New York Times and 1 lerald-Tribuiie to strong criticism by ('olonel .Mc( 'ormiek 's anti-Brit isli Chicago Triliune whicli even liints tlial the Government 's attitude to Kuropean aid is beirig dictnted by blaclcmail. The lierald-Tribnne declares: "With dignity and foivefnlness ' President Truniau has presented to Pongress a dist illation of the greatest elfort to ward international economic planning that has e\er been undertaken. Froni this point on major responsibility will rest upo/i ('ongress. " The Herald-Tribune expresses regret lliat the President did not explore the possibilities of Pongressional or bipartisan collaboration in the form of some consultat ive or advisorv body bnl adds: "The heart of tlie plan is souiul and necessary — necessary to thc maintenaiice of the ci\ ilisation wlierein the American way of life is rooted. necessary to the maintenance of that way itself. ' ' The New York Times says the President took his stand on what promises to be one of the most controversial issues in the whole j>roposal. "Some crities jf the plan have deiiinnded and enmo r

the President 's more cautious adviser> urged, that he put the programme on a year to year basis, asking ('ongressional authority at this tiine only for that part covering tlie first fifteen months. This livpocritical course lie rejocled unceremoniously. " The Daily Xews doubts that the progfaihme will buv est Europe awav from Communism and says the United States should at least set up some safeguards to keep it from turning iiito just another but eiiorniouslv bigger co m bi nation of Unria and works projects administratiou. " One of the bitterest attacks on the plan is made by the Daily Mirror whicli says: "This global works projeets administratiou is tlie greatest fools' gaiuble ever proposed with a straight face to an intelligent nation tt has been w*ell nanied 'operation ratliole *. Congress nuist strike this wastrel administratiou. It nmst proteet the people from this prodigal and perilous sclieme. " The Chicago Tribuiie, in an editorial headed "Blackniail Suspected", savs there is 110 easy self-evident explana tion of the beliaviour of the United States (rovernment towards Europe's uieiidicant nations. Obviouslv thc giving of fifteen or twenty billion dol lars is not going to render them either stable or prosperous. Tliere is now miich reason to believe that as early as DK'»S uur countrv was in conspiracy with Britain. France and Ifolland looliingi toward vvar. It is altogether prouabie any written evidence to this elfect in this country has been destroved. The facts, however, Would be known in the Kuropean Foreign Offiees I'oncerned and they would be most convenieut lor the purposcs of blackniail. ' 1