NEWS OF THE WEEK
It is clear that President Truman is willing to go ahead with measures to provide • military aid to Europe if it is required. His message of March 17th, in which he called for universal training and a measure of conscription, made that sure. The subsequent acts of Mr. Marshall and of the Service authorities show that they are looking at the problem realistically. The reported agreement of a joint plan between the United States and Great Britain shows that specific action is being taken so far as it is possible without political sanction. But the other omens are less good. The demand for an enlarged American air force in particular may be nothing more than a device for avoiding wider issues. It is necessary, even while fully recognising the rapidly growing foresight and sense of international duty which have brought the Americans so far, to see how great are the uncertainties which still remain. There will be no American military aid until the Brussels Powers have built up a workable organisation. Americans will decide when that point has been reached. Americans will then decide what support will be given. The decision will only be made after the full Congressional process has been gone through. Clearly the Brussels signatories, while hoping for American aid, will have to get full value from their own resources in the meantime.
