FIRST U.S.A. AID SHIPMENTS TO EUROPE NOW ON THE WAY

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1948, Page 8

FIRST U.S.A. AID SHIPMENTS TO EUROPE NOW ON THE WAY

LONDON, April 5. The first shipments of American goods under the European recovery programme are expected to sail today. The “Daily Herald” says: “Though part of the Marshall Aid will be on a loan basis, part will be free. The Marshall Plan was not devised —as it has been accused —for the splitting of Europe. The aid was offered to all European nations. It was Russia and her associates who refused to join in and who proclaimed the doctrine of “two camps.” The “Manchester Guardian” savs “The United States has risen to the occasion. It is now for the Western European nations to (io no less.” The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The unexpected rapidity, with which Congress has approved the European recovery programme has been due to the mounting tempo of Russian aggression.” The tariffite paper “Daily Express” maintains its view that Britain should have turned to the Empire instead of relying on the United States and says that Britain will have to “pay a price” for the benefits it received.

The" Communist Daily Worker” says that the adoption of the _ European recovery programme “coincides with the growth of a deliberately fostered war hysteria.” . “The Times” says: ‘Tf the Marshall Plan founders and Communist wreckers have 1 their way it will be Europe’s fault. The task now is for the European countries to respond with equal courage and vigour to the great gesture of the United States ” Anglo-French Message Of Gratitude to U.S. (Rec. 9.5). PARIS, April 6. Mr Ernest Bevin and M. Bidault (French Foreign Minister) have sent a joint message to General Marshall saying that the attainment of the Marshall Aid Plan had “heartened the free peoples of the world”. The message added that European nations, fortified by the United States support and encouragement, would press on the work of co-operation they had already begun, and would make the European recovery programme a success.