Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1951-05-07
Norway
SUMMING Up MARSHAL AID

years OF Marshall Aid to Norway.
the Economic Cooperation Admin
istration notes that Norway was
well OF the road TO full economic
recovery BY 1852 when the Korean
war and the resulting rearmament
OF the Western World interviewed.
with Marshall Plan Aid" n e
report says. Norway made post
war records in production d
trade during the third year of
Us. assistance. But the same fac
tors which helped to reduce the
dollar gap materially since h e
Communist attack in Korea, have
also increased inflationary pres
sures as Norway's defenses are
tightened.'
The ECA report continues: Nor
way. whose land stretches into the
Arctic up TO Russia's northern
border. has reached an excellent
condition OF political health and
democratic unity. Economically
the country has a number Of
achievements to its credit during
the ttird-year period. spanked By
Marshall Plan direct and indirect
grants and loans Of approximately
S402 million"
It's people. who number slight
Is ucre than three million. are
tackliag the JOB OF building Their
6efe-ses with determination Al
though manpower has been very
short during the postwar period,
making any increase IN the armed
forces difficult. Norway has al
ready increased the number and
length Of service OF its conscripts.
Speeding Up Defense
A. expansion of about 80 per
cent q the nations armed forces,
a goal previously set for the end
OF 1854, is expected now to be met
by the end of 1852 At the same
time. the use OF manpower in de-
tense industries will be increased
by about SO per cent. The result
ing increase in general defense ex-
penditures will total about 100 per
cent"
NORWAY has made considera BILE
strides in production and export
since the war. which destroyed al
most one-fifth of the nations
wealth. including the loss of about
half its merchant fleet while car
rying cargoes for the Allied ma
tions.'
Norway has had to devote re-
sources equal 10 about 80 per cent
OF its annual production to rebuild
ing and expanding its productive
capacity NJ u c Of the needed
equipment and material had TO
be purchased from abroad, since
Norway habitually exchanges
limited number OF commodities
pulp. paper. fish. shipping services,
.electro-chemical and electro-metal-
lurgical products-for the broad
range Of raw materials and fin
.ished products required by its
economy"
For example. in restoring its
merchant fleet, Norway bought
from the shipyards Of other Mar
shall Plan countries. as well as the
United States"
Marshall Aid Supplementary
TO make these investment pur-
chases. the Norgegians have kept
consumption down through "a
tioning and other measures Nor
way also spent the foreign e X
change accumulated during n
war from shipping earnings and
insurance payments for ship losses
Other sources were likewise K
s,atsled before Norway turned TO
the ECA FOR loans and credits, and
thus Marshall Plan aid has been
supplementary TO the efforts Of
the Norwegian people
las result Of these efforts
the nation repaired its war dam
ages. and has expanded production
and shipping capacity beyond pre-
war levels. After meeting require
nents Of its productive plant, and
home consumption needs. Norway
was able to concentrate on produc-
ton for export, which has shown
a noteworthy IS per cent increase
IN 1850 over the previous year"
The ECA report concludes with