America's feeble weapon : funding the Marshall Plan in France and Italy, 1948-1950 / Chiarella Esposito.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [209]-220) and index.

1. Before the Marshall Plan. Drawing Up the Marshall Plan. France and Italy: The Demise of Tripartitism. Centrist Consolidation in France: The Third Force Takes Over. The Christian Democrats Secure Power in Italy. France and Italy Choose Different Economic Paths -- 2. France, 1948: Supporting the Third Force. Third Force Political Fragmentation. The American Position and Counterpart Funds. Henri Queuille Moves toward Political and Financial Stability. A Financial Emergency and First Counterpart Fund Release. Strikes, More Inflation, and Queuille's Victory. The ECA's Ineffective Threats -- 3. France, 1949: Investments at All Costs. French Optimism: Continuing with High Investment. American Pessimism. The Perilous Summer of the French Treasury. Henri Queuille Resigns; the ECA Blocks Counterpart Funds. More Ineffective Threats -- 4. France, 1950: The "Bronze Plaque" Approach. Financial Stability and the ECA's New Approach. Wooing French Labor. America's Tangible Gift to French Workers.

The French Government Disagrees. War in Korea. Still No French Acquiescence -- 5. Italy, 1948-1949: A Muddled Beginning. The Fifth De Gasperi Government and Economic Policy. The Rome Mission at Odds with Its Superiors. Changing American Assessments -- 6. Italy, 1949: Bureaucratic Nightmare. Organizing Marshall Plan Implementation. Demands for Change. Efforts to Expedite the Counterpart Fund Program -- 7. Italy, 1950: Hope and Relapse. Cabinet Crisis: Dossetti Accepts a Compromise. An Investment Drive at Last, but Unplanned. Italian Economic Policy after the Outbreak of War. The American Position after Korea.