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- WORLD, Page 57World NotesEAST-WESTCashing In On Promises
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- Though many Western leaders have generously praised the reforms
- taking place in Poland and Hungary, they have been relatively
- stingy in offering any material encouragement. Now, however, the
- words may be matched by an ample infusion of cash. Last week the
- European Community proposed that 24 non-Communist industrialized
- countries, including its own twelve members, send $648 million in
- aid to Warsaw and Budapest next year.
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- That figure is in addition to the $252 million in food and
- economic assistance to both countries pledged earlier by President
- George Bush. Last week, addressing the annual meeting of the
- International Monetary Fund in Washington, Bush declared that "we
- must do more." In the case of Poland, the Administration is
- planning to increase its assistance program. Though the White House
- offered few details about what it called a "new package of support"
- for Poland, aides hinted that a half-billion dollars' worth of
- credits and loans would be announced this week. Officials said it
- would be channeled through agencies, like the IMF, that monitor its
- effects on the recipient's economy.