British Pathe

Claridges Hotel, London.

SCU. Marshall Plan Administrator Mr Paul Hoffman and American Ambassador Mr Lewis Douglas seated before press and guests during press conference at Claridges Hotel. Various shots of Mr Hoffman addressing the conference - natural sound. Mr Hoffman says: '.....gratified...

Claridges Hotel, London.

SCU. Marshall Plan Administrator Mr Paul Hoffman and American Ambassador Mr Lewis Douglas seated before press and guests during press conference at Claridges Hotel. Various shots of Mr Hoffman addressing the conference - natural sound. Mr Hoffman says: '.....gratified to be able to report to you that I've found that the members of the Dollar Export Board hold the views I do on the approach which Britain must make to closing the dollar gap. That approach is that British manufacturers must use every means in their grasp and must apply most skilful and imaginative techniques to earn more dollars. They must stimulate the movement of trade to the huge dollar market which beckons to them. They must export more goods to this vast dollar area. British manufacturers have not yet begun to tap the huge reservoir of American buying power. It is a very large market - in 1948 its gross national product was 254 billion dollars. Just one per cent more of that sum spent on British goods, one per cent, and the dollar gap can be closed. I do want to stress that to get that one per cent will take energetic salesmanship as well as low cost production... for my own country, I can assure you that the great mass of Americans entertain towards the British people feelings of deep and abiding friendship. On both sides of the Atlantic we know that our two countries and the Commonwealth must stand together and work together and stick together, along with all the free nations if we are to realise our hopes for economic success and lasting peace for the world.'

Various shots of the press men and women taking notes as Mr Hoffman answers the questions. Mr Hoffman talking - natural sound. He again talks about the closing the dollar gap and increasing the sales in the USA. Journalists listening. Mr Hoffman is asked questions, he answers. He talks about selling American surpluses to Europe. Crowd applauding at the end of the conference. Several close up shots of the journalists asking questions.

(Comb. Orig. Neg. 2169 A. & Pos. Track 2169.B.)

Date found in the old record - 26/08/1949.

A duplicate of Mr Hoffman's speech exists as an independent story on the same tape - Film ID - 2511.16.