COAL PRODUCTION IN RUHR

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25085, 17 January 1947, Page 7

COAL PRODUCTION IN RUHR

*lt was arranged that there should be a further meeting as soon as the forthcoming British economic White Paper has been debated in Parliament. Both sides recognised that it was in their interests to prevent the economic reconstruction of Germany, Though this was necessary ..am many points of view. France needed increased imports of coal for her economic recovery, and increased Ruhr coal production was essential in European reconstruction.

“The Ruhr, however, could not increase its exports immediately and it must retain enough coal to ensure the rehabilitation of the Ruhr mines and a progressive increase Li German exports. The authorities in Germany invisaged the restoration by the end of April, 1947, of exports to the level operating before the cuts of November, 1946, if production rose as expected.” The Paris correspondent of the British United Press says a French Government spokesman said: “Mr Blum’s talks in London can be regarded merely as a psychological start towards a British-French alliance and closer economic and political co-operation. Mr Blum* end the French Government regard it as a promising start. We are well satisfied with the results,”

observers consider a possible British-French alliance as one of the most momentous acts in the history of both countries,” says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. “The conclusion of the alliance will complete the triangle of post-war treaties linking East and West Europe, which was begun by the British-Soviet alliance of May, 1942, and added to by the French-Soviet alliance of 1944. The possibility of completing this triangle by a British-French alliance has been under consideration in London and Paris ever since France’s liberation. “The form of the alliance is expected to follow closely the model of the 20-year British-Soviet and FrenchSoviet pacts, which will eliminate drafting difficulties.” The correspondent adds that there is speculation in London regarding the reaction of the Soviet Union and the French Communist Party to the proposed British-French alliance. It is hoped that all French parties will welcome the proposal. London observers connect the departure yesterday from Paris for Moscow of the Russian Ambassador (Mr Bogomolov) with reports of the move for a British-French alliance.