The Prime Minister sent to me this afternoon the attached personal letter from Mr. Bevin, which he received via Clutterbuck last night. He commented that he did not think this letter ought to go on the files and that it was probably a matter which should be taken up with Mr. Howe. The Wartime Prices and Trade Board is also pretty directly involved. I think probably the way to deal with it is to take it up with Mr. Howe in a letter, simply indicating that this has been brought to the Prime Minister's attention by a high level approach and that Mr. King feels that the request should be carefully investigated. It would be necessary to paraphrase most of the letter.

H. WRONG

[PIECE JOINTE/ENCLOSURE]

Le secrétaire d'état aux Affaires étrangères de Grande Bretagne au Premier ministre
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Great Britain to Prime Minister

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

London, September 25, 1946

Dear Mackenzie King,

When we spoke in Paris you were good enough to offer to help us on special matters whenever possible. Such a case has arisen. We are desperately short of paper and pulp to meet the needs of the British Zone of Germany. It is essential to have more German papers. Byrnes has told me the Americans are also going to step up both press and radio publicity in their Zone. I want if at all possible to do the same. The reason for this needs no explanation.

But our present supplies are not enough to cover German paper requirements even at their present low level. We are doing all we can to help from stocks and by manufacture in mills over here. To meet the present emergency in the Zone, we are hoping to supply immediately 4,000 tons of newsprint. But such supplies can only be sent at the expense of our own needs which are still very far from being met, and shortage of paper is, as you know, seriously hampering our own post war recovery. Walter Layton of our News-print Purchasing Mission at present in your country can let you have fuller details of the position.

There is also a serious shortage in our Zone of "strong" paper for industrial packing purposes. The critical food situation makes this an urgent need.

Could you help us out by making available, on an emergency basis, over the three months October to December, 1946, 2,000 tons of sulphate pulp and 2,300 tons of sulphate pulp per month? In addition, would it be possible for you to replace the 4,000 tons of newsprint which we are sending from this country to meet the immediate needs?

I hope that the supply position in 1947 will be somewhat better but we might have to appeal for help again. I would be grateful for anything you can do in this matter.¹

Yours sincerely,
ERNEST BEVIN

¹La note suivante était écrite sur cette lettre:
¹The following note was written on this letter:
Letter given me by hand by High Commissioner at Earnscliffe evening of Oct[ober] 4/1946.