Marshall plan: US aid to rebuild postwar Europe – archive, 1947

On 5 June 1947, secretary of state George Marshall put forward the idea of a European economic recovery plan to be financed by the US. See how the Guardian and Observer reported events

6 June 1947

It would be neither fitting nor efficacious for this government to undertake to draw up unilaterally a programme designed to place Europe on its feet economically. This is the business of the Europeans. The initiative, I think, must come from Europe. The role of this country should consist of friendly aid in drafting a European programme and of later support of such a programme so far as it may be practical to do so.

It is logical that the United States should do whatever it is able to do to assist in the return of normal economic health in the world without which there can be no political stability and no assured peace. Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos.

United States assistance should not be doled out as crises develop. Any assistance the government may render in future should provide a cure rather than a mere palliative. Any government that is willing to assist it in the task of recovery will find full cooperation on the part of the United States government. Any government which manoeuvres to block the recovery of other countries cannot expect help from us. Furthermore, governments, political parties or groups which seek to perpetuate human misery in order to profit therefrom politically or otherwise will encounter the opposition of the United States.