Coal Supply and European Rearmament

Report Outline
Shortage of Vital Coal in Western Europe
Difficulties of Europe's Coal Industry
Remedies for Europe's Coal Dilemma
Special Focus

Shortage of Vital Coal in Western Europe

Legs of Output Behind Industrial Requirements

Lagging production of coal, principal source of power for European industry, is one of the most critical handicaps to rapid rearmament of the countries of Western Europe. Failure of coal output to keep pace with rising energy requirements has forced the free nations of Europe to resume costly importation of coal from the United States. The need for shipments across the Atlantic is compelling attention to basic problems of European coal supply—problems which must be dealt with if West European governments are to meet their defense goals and at the same time to make desired improvements in standards of living.

Europe has ample coal reserves and traditionally has been self-sufficient in solid fuels. Before World War II, Western Europe produced enough coal and coke to meet all basic domestic requirements and to export substantial quantities to other parts of the world. Only small amounts were imported from nearby continental sources such as Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Because of wartime dislocations in mining, Western Europe needed large coal shipments from the United States for four years after V-E day. By early in 1950, however, the postwar shortage appeared to have been overcome. Under the European recovery program, considerable progress had been made in reviving West European coal production. Although the output still was below the prewar level, it was sufficient to cover current demand. West European industrial production was then running some 20 per cent above 1938, but marked development in the use of hydroelectricity and liquid fuels, together with more efficient utilization of coal, enabled Western Europe to dispense with heavy imports of United States coal.