America's New Course
Even Americans do not willingly prophesy what will happen when a new Congress assembles, and since the eightieth Congress of the United States will have Republican majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, whereas the Presidency remains in the rather uncertain hands of a Democrat, forecasts have reached un- paralleled heights of ambiguity. But it is at least possible to name -certain. subjects on which discussion will be sharp and from which important decisions may emerge, despite the forces making for inaction. Economic assistance to foreign countries is one. With the disappearance of U.N.R.R.A., the United States will be forced to find a new policy. Congress is likely to insist that such relief shipments as are made shall be discussed country by country, thus opening the way for the bestowal of favours on selected claimants. Moreover, a recent strong recommendation by one Congress committee that -industrial equipment should not be supplied to Russia indicates that loans as well as relief may be made according to political considera- tions. But just how directly American influences on lending will be exerted is not entirely a domestic matter. The present tendency is to shift the business on to the International Bank. The removal of war- time controls, which is likely to take place in the next six months following the President's proclamation of the official end of the wir on December 31st, 1946, puts Congress in a difficulty. For although theoretically they are running as fast as they can towards free enter- prise, they are likely to balk at the removal of the Government's powers to take over factories and mines in a strike and to support farmers with subsidies or even with relief purchases if prices weaken. Something will be learned about the President's personal attitude when he presents his Budget message in a few days' time. Some observers, encouraged by his firm treatment of John L. Lewis, fore- cast that he will do what is right regardless of the political conse- quences in two years' time ; but at this distance the hope that Mr. Truman will now become a strong man looks rather pathetic.
Previous page
