The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, April 10, 1948. THE STRUGGLE FOR EUROPE

Grey River Argus, 10 April 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, April 10, 1948. THE STRUGGLE FOR EUROPE

it may have been entirely an accident, the interest in the iconsequences of Al onclay’s aircraft disaster at Berlin is yet keen because it. has been but one more incident in a dramatic struggle for the soul of Western Europe. Now that the first shipments are due from America under the .Marshall Plan, it might b'e possible to set a time which should show how that struggle is destined to go. It should take no more than three months to tell whether there is a gradual and durable change among all sixteen of the nations concerned —such a change, as will inevitably do away with that psychology and that state of poverty and frustration upon which the Soviet since the end of the Avar has counted to extend its sway right across the. Continent. The Marshall Plan is not ill described as a blood transfusion, and is significantly called a capitalistic grab by the Communists. They had after the Avar expected to out-manoeuvre Western rivals, even though co-operating meantime. But nearly all the European Socialists became quickly disillusioned, realising that —as in Poland—they elsewhere would become just junior partners ami then victims of the Communists, hi Hungary and Czechoslovakia the Socialists either had to become fellow travellers or take the. count. Neither in Rumania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, nor East Germany had the Socialists any role left them except 'collaboration. In Western countries, like Belgium, Austria, Holland, Britain, Scandinavia, as well as Italy and France, the Socialists early recognised that the Communists would give them no more quarter than any others. What surprised the Socialists no less than the Communists, however, was the rise of Christian Democratic Parties, radical in character, and with- these the Socialists for the most part have, made generally common cause politically. It has been the Communist line to keep going a revolutionary ferment,

without risking by extreme action. su'ch a reaction as might squelch the Communist elements in .Italy and France, but when the Mashall Plan took shape, the tactics were changed to those, of general strike action. The result was heavy loss for those countries, but not the deefat of the Plan, which yet has, however, to actually function. The Americans now call the. thing, not recovery, but co-operation. In France the Communists have failed politically to gain 'control, and the qu.es tion this month is whether , - n Italy they might succeed. The augury is not favourable for them, even in their northern stronghold. Nothing, however, stands yet between them and thei; ultimate aim except the Marshall Plan. The Belgian Premier, now in America, says that the United States has extended its frontier to Europe, but adds that its material backing for the Western Union needs also military backing, and that this is what he understands to be the United States policy. It might be asked why he should allude to a military guarantee but Dr Spaak doubtless reckons that the last endeavours io torpedo the Marshall Plan have vet to be encountered. Berlin may only be a pawn in the game bui the’ Soviet is obviously disposed for further moves to strengthen its hold upon Berlin. On the. other hand, the Western Powers appear determined that so far as Germany is involved the iron curtain shall not go any further. The Eastern bloc has been an adequate object lesson for the West. Eleven thousand Czechs, for instance, have lately lost their jobs for political reasons. Yet there are more than, economic reasons why no more of Europe might be overcome. There is still the love of freedom. It ought to prove a powerful adjunct of American laid in putting Western Europe

back on its feet. As against freedom, the Communists have nothing to offer, when they are deprived of the weapon oi. poverty, unless they choose, to do something desperate.