BRITAIN DEFENDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 5

BRITAIN DEFENDED

ABILITY TO PRODUCE COAL AMERICAN AMBASSADOR’S SUPPORT N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent. Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 13. A Washington message states that Mr Lewis Douglas, American Ambassador to London, impressed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigating the Marshall Plan with a spirited defence of Britain. “If Britain tackles her coal problem vigorously,” he said, “she will increase her present output per man-shift from 1.16 tons to nearly two tons. “It cannot be done overnight," he said, “readjustments and new capital are needed. But it can be done. “Britain’s coal plight to-day, as with nearly all her industrial problems, is the direct result of her dedicating all her energies and efforts to the war. She dedicated more man-power resources and wealth to the prosecution of the war than any other combatant, Germany included. “I am not sure that Britain will produce 214,000,000 tons of coal next year as promised in Paris, but of this you can be sure—she will make every effort to do so.”