A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
THE brief visit of the party of American Congressmen to this country is very welcome, though nothing could be more lamentable than that it should synchronise with one- of the most criminally insane series of coal-strikes in our history. It is clear from conversation with the American legislators that they have come to Europe in a spirit of the fullest good will, and with the intention of carrying out in the most businesslike way their task of estimating the possibility of restoring Europe with American help. One thing is quite certain, that Europe's expectation must be kept within reason- able limits. To suggest that anything like the 19 billion dollars which has been mentioned in some quarters is necessary would alienate Congress fatally at the outset. Something under half that amount spread over three or four years in diminishing sums (pos- sibly 6 billion being provided in the first year) would, I should judge, have a good chance of being approved. The vote in Con- gress may be to some extent on party lines, but more Republicans are likely to vote for aid to Europe than Democrats will vote against it—enough in all likelihood to give a favourable result. It is an interesting accident—perhaps not altogether an accident—that the leader of the Congressional Delegation, Mr. Christian Herter, worked closely with Mr. Hoover on European relief after the last war, and was secretary of the European Relief Council in 1920.
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