Evening star., 1946-09-21
Report Urges Action
Now on Inteerotion
Of Recovery PIons
BY the Associated Press

AA1AI ooSSGOO, ~. .-tOCDV.
21.-The United Nations Sub
commission on the Economic
Reconstruction of Devastated
Areas proposed today a broad
program designed to put war
torn Europe back on it's feet
and help formulate a long-range
European economic plan un-
precedented in scope.
The proposals were contained in
a 450-page report which detailed
economic conditions in Europe and
pointed out problems which require
an immediate solution before recov-
cry can be complete. A similar
report on Asia will be ready next
spring.
The subcommission found that
Europe is emerging rapidly from
the period of devastation, largely
due to the help of UNRRA, but chat
most countries still are faced with
serious shortages Of food, fuel, hous-
ing manpoWer and raw materials
and that financial assistance is
badly needed to restore industry
and international trade to a normal
level
Chief proposal of the 21-nation
group was that the Economic and
Social Council act at once to create
an economic commission for Europe
to foster cooperation in the ex-
pansion and integration of Euro
pean economic activity.
Asks Plans Integrated.
1t was pointed out that almost
every country in Europe now has an
economic plan, which was drafted
without regard to what other ma
tions were doing and which might
easily raise difficult international
economic problems One of the
tasks of the commission would be to
assemble and exchange information
to enable the individual countries
to plan more efficiently for the
future.
Other recommendations included:
- SASoSAOAl Va q HJl
national housing organization.
2. Establishment of an agency de-
scribed as an international IVA, to
study and prepare plans for the CO.
ordinated development of European
power resources and the construc-
ton of hydro-electric plants.
3, Approval of an UNRRA sugges-
tion to establish or designate an
agency to review the needs in l947
for financing urgent imports and
make recommendations. for financial
required to meet foreign
exchange difficulties.
Need for Coal Cited.
The report said the restoration of
coal production to the prewar level
was the most important single factor
necessary for European recovery. 1t /
pointed out that present production
Of coal is about 25 per cent below
the prewar output largely because
of manpoWer problems and a Short
age of mining machinery.
The subcommission recommended
that urgent consideration be given
to the production and distribution of
mining equipment and that arrange
ments be made for an international
exchange of manpoWer between
countries which have a surplus and
those which have a shortage.
To meet the continued shortage of
raw materials, the subcommission
suggested that an agency be set up
to allocate and distribute scarce ma
terials among European nations to
see that they go to the countries
which need them most.
Labor Training Suggested.
Other proposals:
Institution of broad program for
training skilled labor.
Exchange of technical personnel
among the various countries to re-
heve acute shortages, which might
delay economic development.
Encouragement of multi lateral
trade in the place of bi-lateral agree
ments which many countries have
resorted to as a result of foreign
exchange difficulties.
A speed up in the work of the
International Bank and Monetary
Fund so that loans may be obtained
for economic development as soon
as possible.