Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them.

The role of Italy and of Austria has diminished as has that of France and Britain; Germany and Japan have suffered catastrophically.

I was a star in Italy, Austrailia, Germany and Japan before the American stations ever paid attention at all.

I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.