White House Press Release, Report by John R. Steelman

290 #1244 PARI HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE TO July 19, 1947 PARI CONFIDENTIAL: The following statement by the Honoroble John R. Steelman, together with the report on coal exports for the fiscal year 1947 by the Coordinator of Emergency Export Programs, MUST BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE UNTIL RELEASED. NOTE: Release is automatic at 6:00 P.M., E.D.T., today, TOT Saturday, July 19, 1947. The same release applies to all newspapermen, commentators and news broedcasters. glad 03 agate PLEASE GUARD AGAINST PREMATURE PUBLICATION OR ,NNOUNCEMENT. ettogxe to salubados wan CHARLES G. ROSS 918 to brte ent 03 qu eban Secretary to the President do of al alds to adf July 19, 1947 The Assistant to the President today released a report from Captain Granville Conway, Coordinator of Emergency Export Progroms, showing that overseds shipments of U. S. coal during the past fiscal year were greater then for any previous year. The report, Mr. Steelman said, shows that elthough essential recuirements of some European countries were not fully met, U. S. coal exports were of vital assistance to world reconstruction. At the same time, he said, it indicates the need for continuing exports at a high level in the coming year. The shortsge of coal in the war-torn countries, Mr. Steelman said, perhaps more than any other single Pactor, has slowed down the world's recovery from the devastation of war. "It is gratifying, therefore, " he said, "that the U. S. in the fiscal year ending June 30, ter 1947, was able to ship abroad -- and to the places where it was most OW gravely needed -- record-breaking amounts of coal, and to co this in 91 spite of production and shipping difficulties, without denying the needs alls of American consumers and industry. This record was made with a minimum to no of government participation and controls, through the cooperative efforts of the industries concerned, working under policies and programs set by the government. Large as these overseas shipments were, they amounted to only about 5 tons out of every 100 the United States produced last year. We know that these shipments will pay dividends for years to come in improved economic conditions of many areas. Coal is needed in vast quantities not slone to revive industry in devastated lands but to aid in rehabilitating food production and food processing, The importance of our shipmemts is made cleer by the fect that in recent months the U. S. has been delivering a quentity of coal to Europe almost equal to the whole usable output of the Ruhr area of Germany in the same period. Ruhr coal has long been a jor element in European industrial production. "Prospects for high production of coal in the U, S. in the coming year are favorable. The needs of many other countries remein acute. I am sure that the U. S. will continue to keep coal moving to them in large amounts. To do this recuires the same cooperation that Captain Conway has elicited from government, industry and the public during the past months. AS he states in his report, it is important for Americen consumers to stock their requirements early so as to make continuous high production and movement possible. The people of this country as well as those of other lands are indebted to Captsin Conway for the skill with which his office has carried forward the export program. .B Joegmi 01 The text of the report follows: dronxe oft oved ai .leco beboon to TO bae eslocta Leco ac toegn) emos bad. to oved vond of amis Dae Its 107 Isco se ostral (OVER) Loco 18.0 10 e VIGO of assatevo to 0781 BATT ovlowd adt al TUO to 7 sucder a)