Interim Aid
After a slow, pernickety debate of the kind to which European students of American politics are now accustomed, the United States Senate put on a spurt last Monday and suddenly passed the Interim Aid Bill, by which France, Italy and Austria seam stop-gap help to the tune of $597,ocopoo. The overwhelming majority (83 votes to 6) by which the Bill was passed can be attributed to two factors : the Communist-inspired disturbances in France and Italy of the last fortnight, and the dignified but urgent eloquence of Senator Vanden- berg. Three amendments have been attached to the Bili during the Senate debate—one providing for free access for American publicity representatives to report on conditions in the countries benefiting under the Bill, one requiring a detailed list of the commodities pro- vided by the United States relief funds, and a third by which the French, Italian and Austrian Governments must inform their people which commodities are being made available free of charge. The third of these riders was criticised as " humiliating " by Senator Fulbright, but though all three may be regarded as a shade ungracious, there is really nothing in these amendments which recipient countries can actively resent. The comparative speed with which the Bill has been passed by the Senate should, rather, be a source of satisfaction (not unmingled with surprise) to the European countries directly concerned.
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