Stimulus for the Ruhr
Paper targets are one thing, and production up to target level another ; that has been abundantly experienced in the coal-fields of this country. The same reservation must be made in regard to the agreement now reached about Goal-production in the Ruhr. That complete agreement has been reached by Great Britain and America (thanks to the wise removal of the nationalisation question from the field of discussion) is the first satisfactory element. That the agreement itself is so far-reaching—covering increased food- supplies as a stimulus to production, increased steel-imports to pro- vide for the construction and repair of mining machinery and im- proved transport to facilitate distribution from the pit-head—is another satisfactory and important element. What effect increased food-supplies can have has already been demonstrated in the Ruhr. Whether the estimated 30o,000 tons a "lay by the end of 1947, and 400,000 tons by the end of 1948, can be achieved remains to be proved. There is no reason why it should not be, and every possible effort must be exerted to see that it is. That applies to the German management, to which increased responsibilities are now to be entrusted as much as to-the Anglo-American Control Group which will exercise supreme authority. Financial assistance, which can only come from America, will be needed in the first instance to provide for food and steel imports. It looks like being a better investment than much post-war expenditure.
