HC Deb 03 March 1948 vol 448 c372
13. Mr. Blackburn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any political conditions have been attached to the proposals for the European Recovery Programme made by the American Secretary of State to His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Bevin

No proposals have been made to His Majesty's Government by the United States Secretary of State. An Economic Co-operation Bill, based on proposals made to Congress by Mr. Marshall, was reported out of the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate last week. It contained no political conditions.

Mr. Blackburn

Has my right hon. Friend anything to say about the allegation by Mr. Wallace that our steel nationalisation programme has been definitely postponed under American pressure, which allegation will be received with acclaim by Communists and crypto-Communists in this country?

Mr. Bevin

I really cannot answer questions for Mr. Wallace, or for any statesman of another country. I gave the fact that there are no political conditions in the Bill.

Mr. Platts-Mills

Can the House be informed whether the Question or the answer, or both, were framed by Mr. Marshall?

Mr. Bevin

No, Sir, it was not framed by Mr. Marshall, or by Mr. Molotov.