Recovery Of Europe Close To A Miracle

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 5

Recovery Of Europe Close To A Miracle

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (Recd. 6 pm).—The progress of Western Europe toward economic recovery was “something clcse to a miracle,” said the Economic Co-operation Administrator, Mr. Paul Hoffman. He declared that the Marshall Plan funds had removed the danger of Western Europe falling into the Russian orbit. “Europe is now in no danger,” he said. “The American people, through this expenditure, have never got so much for sc little.” Mr. Hoffman said there was hope for a second miracle if efforts to achieve a unified and integrated European economy were successful. Europe’s production had already reached pre-war levels. He added that although European production had steadily increased in the past 18 months, European countries must strive after completely free trade as early as possible. Mr. Hoffman said Sir Stafford Cripps had been very active in securing the acceptance of a proposal to reduce by 50 per cent, items under quantitive restrictions. He was satisfied with the British approach at the Paris meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, as outlined by Sir Stafford Cripps. Mr. Hoffman said it was appreciated Britain had obligations to the sterling area and the Empire which had to be taken into account.