Agreement To Spread Europe's Coal And Coke

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 December 1950, Page 5

Agreement To Spread Europe's Coal And Coke

LONDON, Dec. 19 (Recd. 6 pm).— An agreement has been reached in Geneva between the coal exporting and coal importing countries of western and central Europe by which it is hoped to reduce the effects of the fuel shortage and thus overcome the hardships which some importing countries might otherwise suffer during the first three months next year.

Eighteen countries, including Poland, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, were represented at the meeting, organised by the British Ministry of Supply. It was estimated that their total import requirements of coal and coke during thn first quarter of 1951 will be 19,500.000 tons. The amount available for export, as announced by Belgium. Czechoslovakia, France, the Saar, Holland. Britain and Western Germany, showed a deficit of 5,000,000 tons of coal and 1,000.000 tons of coke. By adjustments and concessions it was agreed to ensure supplies for importing countries covering 10,500,000 ton«; of coal and 3,000.000 tons of coke. The agreement took particular consideration of the position of Scandinavian countries, whose low stocks and absence of local supplies would otherwise have meant drastic curtailment of industrv and transport.— Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.