Second Year (1949-1950): Toward Economic Growth ... - PDF, 101 mb

xii Preface
freely of their time for interviews included high officials, economists,
political scientists, bankers, industrialists, leaders of trade unions and
farmers' organizations, newspaper editors, and writers. Those consulted
were invariably well informed and many were highly articulate. My
indebtedness to them and to all who facilitated the necessary contacts
is incalculable. The reader will find, sprinkled throughout this work,
frequent references to the interviews 'and many direct quotations from
them. The conversations have Clarified and made more vivid many aspects
of the operation. They have also made possible something approaching
a synthesis of opinion on a number of questions.
In addition, access has been provided to documentary materials of all
types in the files of the Economic Cooperation Administration and' its
successor organizations-the Mutual Security Agency and the Foreign
Operations Administration. The amount of these materials at home'and
overseas is staggering, and it has been possible in the time available
to tap only a small part of this abundant resource. The assistance and
advice furnished by persons associated with the agencies mentioned
above and others in Europe have been more than liberal. Some have
read parts or all of the preliminary manuscript of this work and offered
many discriminating suggestions and criticisms.
The wise, independent counsel and guidance provided by members of
the Governmental Affairs Institute's Board of Directors is deeply appreciated.
Those who have undertaken work similar to this will understand
the wholeheartedness with which acknowledgment is also made
of the loyal assistance of a small staff in the tasks of research, editing,
and typing. Thanks are extended to the Foreign Operations Administra­
,tion for the pictures in this volume and for aid in preparing the charts.
Numerous individuals who took part in the program are mentioned
by name, many for illustrative purposes. But it has not been found
feasible to attempt to present a full and balanced roster, of all who made
significant contributions to the Marshall Plan enterprise. Reprehensible
omissions in this respect must be laid to limitations in the author's
knowledge and in the scope of this work.
While the writer must assume major' responsibility for the critical
views and conclusions'expressed in this book, whatever merit they may
contain is attributable in large measure to the richness of the vein that
he has been privileged to work and to the unstinting quality of the
help that has been given him.
Washington, D.C.
January 1955
HARRY B. PRICE