RECOVERY OF EUROPE

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 September 1947, Page 5

RECOVERY OF EUROPE

16-NATION REPORT FURTHER DETAILS OF THE TARGETS AIMED AT (N.Z P. A.—Reuter—Copyright.) Reed. 9 p.m. Paris, Sept. 27. The full report of the 16 Nation Conference on the Marshall Plan for European recovery was issued today. It gives details of the production targets summarised in th e report on September 22. The report Is called “the first volume of the report of the European Committee of Economic Cooperation.” British targets, in addition to those announced on September 22, include a 20 per cent, increase in livestock population, and the largest increase in poultry of any of the 16 countries. Ship Building Britain is also at the top of the list for the target, for shipbuilding. All 16 nations hope to make good by 1951 the 22,000,000 gross tons of shipping lost during the war. Th P result, if the target is reached, will be .that Britain, in 1951, will have 17,000,000 tons of merchant shinping, while Norway, next on the list, will have 3,800,000 tons. Coal Production Discussing the British plan to increase coal exports to Europe from 6.000,000 tons in 1948 to 29,000,000 ton s by 1951, the report says the British plan is to increase the total output, in 1951 by 50,000,000 tons over the 1948 figure. This will be none by extending th e labour force and extensive capital development, including 20 new sinkings and the intensified use of modern mechanised methods. The mining machinery and supplies of all kinds required for this major effort, will exceed in cost £250,000.000. Nearly all thp items required will be produced in Britain itself. Coal production in the AngloAmerican zones of -Germany will be increased by 60,000,000 tons, but the devastation in mining areas is so great that it will not be possible to regain the 1938 output. Coal production in the Saar will reach the 1938 level in 1948, and in 1951 will be 20 per cent, above the 1938 level. French coal production already exceeds the pre-war output and France expects a further expansion of 25 per cent., or 12.000,000 tons, will be attained by 1951. The general expectation is that coal production In the participating countries and western Europe will be in 1951 30.000.000 tons higher than In 1938. Migrants for Britain Britain asked the technical committee on manpower for 120.000 European migrants, of whom 115,000 should be skilled and 5000 of these coalminers. The committee estimated that. 2,555.000 persons in Europe wished to emigrate, but that only 5 per cent, were skilled. No qualified, miners were available.

The Associated Press correspondent says the report makes clear that the objective of the 16 planning nations is simple and direct. They want American money so they can buy American goods heavily during the next, four years, but as early as {x>ssible they want to make it. possible to buy less in America and sell more to America.

The report gives the production targets for individual countries and doe§ not break down the lists of western Eurottean requirements. During the next four years it is estimated these will include £300,000.000 worth of iron and steel, £100,000,000 worth of timber and wood pulp, £1,800,000,000 worth of cotton wool and non-ferrous ores, hides and leather, all from the United States.

The report says the Rtihr bUtput is essential to European economy. German potential must not be used so as to constitute a threat to European security, but the report expects difficulties in taking Germany off the production of heavy goods and putting her to producing lighter consumer goods of strictly non-military quality. German Production

The report says an excessive concentrat.on on consumer goods production in Germany might create insoluble problems for countries which traditionally made and supplied those types of goods. Nevertheless the population of western Germany would be from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 greater than pre-war, and increased trade would be necessary if only to meet the minimum food and raw material requirements. The farming targets for western Germany would mean great increases in present production, but even by 1951’ western Germany would have 13 per cent, .fewer livestock than in 1938, 30 per cent, fewer pigs and 40 per cent, fewer poultry.