American Progress Report
After a phase of uncertainty and delay American progress towards aid for Europe has been resumed. The process of sweeping in the corners to collect immediate funds for the assistance of France and Italy has produced a useful harvest in the form of purchases of French currency on behalf of the American forces in Europe, some old debts to France for supplies during the war, a transfer to Italy of $30,000,000 of impounded gold, and a loan to Italy of $32,000,000 from Export-Import Bank. The reports on which the Marshall Plan will be built are coming in. The committee under Mr. Krug has reported that the physical resources of the United States are capable of providing aid to Europe on the scale required by the Paris Report, although there will be difficulties in the case of wheat, fertilisers, and above all steel. This report will provide a firm start for the recommendations of the Harriman Committee on the pro- portion of American industrial output which may be available for Europe. In fact the trend is in the right direction. But there are also some ominous signs. The Krug report refers very pointedly to the need for " the careful screening of requirements and the channelling of supplies " and this note is likely to be struck more and more loudly as the plan progresses. As a sign that the emphasis is moving from European plans to American responsibilities it is welcome, but memories of the functioning of the Office of Lend Lease Administration in the latter days of the war recall how many are the opportunities for delay and obstruction which such phrases as " screening " and " channelling " can cover. Then some of the returning Congressmen are not favourably impressed with European efforts at self-help and President Truman -has still not made up his mind about an emergency session. But still thcre is progress and it is in the right direction.
