PRESSURES TURNING AGAINST COMMUNISTS

Chronicle (Levin), 10 February 1949, Page 6

PRESSURES TURNING AGAINST COMMUNISTS

(N.Z.P.A.-

Reuter -

Rebirth Of Faitfi Ia Democracy

Cowngtit)

Received "Wedne'sday, 7 p'.m. "WASHINGTON, February 8. Tlie Seer'etary of State, Mr. Acheson, and the European Recovery Programme ambassadof at large, Mr. Averell Harriman, told Congress today that Bussia is losing its fight against European recovery. ' . Mr. Acheson said: "The outstanding fact of the first appraisals of the cooperative American-European recovery, operations, is that the programme is succeeding. " Mr. Harriman said: £Pressures in Europe are turning against the Communists as the result of American aid to bolster Western European economy."

Mr. Acheson declared that the current /situation in Europe was "vastly more encouraging than ii was two years ago." He claimed that tlie niaJor cause of this was the European Recovery Programme and it was to protect advances made that plans were now being worked out to strengthen the seeurity of the liations of Western Europe and assure that advances gained are liot lost. He said : — "There has been no advance in totalitarianism in Europe. The J'ree community of Europe has not only held its own but it has, during this period, also made great strides forward. Within the participating countries there has been a rebirth of faith in the vitality of the democratic system and its ability to deal with their postwar problems. ' ' . Mr. Acheson claimed that in every rccent important election the people of Europe had "vigorously reaffirmed their adherence to ihe principles of individual freedom and (Jovernments based on .constitutional restraint." lle praised the rel'usal of laliour to be "misled by i'oreign dictation."

Mr. Achesqn, detailing the de(inile advances made in the European field of eollective seeurity, deseribed the Ikussejs Pact as a striking manifestation of tlie resolve of the signatorv countries to defend their independence and freedoms "against external aggres: sion. Urging patience 011 those who wanted rapid unitv in Europe, Mr. Acheson said there had been significant steps toward the eventual development of a closer political unity, including the work of the Office of Europ'ean Economic Cooperation and the creation of a Council of Europe as well as the Brussels Pact. Mr. Acheson said that the i'orm and nature of these developments aiong economic and political lines, rrmst coine frorn the people oi Europe themselves becduse only tliey could work out their own salvation through their own efforts. The United States' role must be to encourage and support those efforts. Urging Oongressmen to remeniber that the European Recovery Programme was succeeding, Mr. Acheson said: £The worst of all courses would lie to relax otir efforts and aliow the mornentimi of achievement to diminish. To Io ko would he to lose all tliar has been gained and to lose also the opportunity to bring the pro-

gramme to full eomplqtion. ' ' Mr. Harriman said: "We are vviiining tlie struggie for freedom and peace despite a deliberate and oitter campaign of sabotage by the Soviet." He said that in the battle against communism, the role of the free labour unions- oi the Western World and the assistance whieh could be given by the free labour unions of America, were of the highest importance. "It is essential for alb.of us to understand thaU events in Europe i'oreibly bring out that free labour unions are among the chief bastions of Western democracy ander an unrelenting assault by a stubborn enemy.'-' Mr. Harriman called on American private invcstment . to press forward vigorously in the development of the colonies of European nations. A comprehensive and cooperative effort by the European countries concerned and United ►States, would help carry forward the progrcssive development of the colonies in tlie interests oi their inhabitants, in accordance with the principles of United Nations Charter. It would benefit the European nations and provide raw materials for American industry.