U.S. ANSWER TO WORLD CHALLENGE

Grey River Argus, 5 April 1948, Page 3

U.S. ANSWER TO WORLD CHALLENGE

6098 Million Dollars Foreign Aid Finalised

(Rec. 8.30) WASHINGTON, April 3 President Truman to-day signed the 6098 million dollar Foreign Aid Bill, providing for assistance to sixteen Western European nations and China, Greece, and Turkey. “This signing is a momentous occasion in the world’s quest for an enduring peace, said Mr Truman. “Those who are sceptical of the effectiveness of a democratic system should ponder the lesson of the enactment of this measure. Our programme of foreign aid is, perhaps, the greatest venture in constructive statesmanship which any nation has ever taken.”

He continued: “The Foreign Assistance is the best answer wnich this country can make in reply the vicious, distorted misrepresentations of our efforts for peace, which dissortions have been spread abroad by those who do not wish our efforts to succeed. This measure is America’s answer to the challenge which is facing the free world to-day. It is a measure for reconstruction, stability, and peace." The House thundered final approval of the historic measures by 317 votes to 75, and the Senate later passed \s Bill by a voice vote without debate. The aid will thus come into force more than two weeks before the crucial Italian elections on April 18.

Most of the actual funds remain be voted later, but the Reconstruction Finance Corporation is empowered to advance ' immediately 1,000,000,000 dollars to Marshall Plan countries and 50,000,000 dollars each to China, Greece, and Turkey. The entire programme will cost every American man, woman and child 42 dollars for the first year. The United Press stated that the first supply ships are expected to sail overseas by Saturday night. The acting Secretary of State, (Mr Robert Lovett) said th?>t everything is set to go. Commedities were already moving towards ports and a skeleton Marshall Plan organisation had already been set up waiting for Mr Truman's authorisation. The aid programme is the most far-reaching peace-time project of its kind ever undertaken. Congress acted with a speed and near unanimity which reflected clearly its fear of Russian aims