Following the offer of American aid for European reconstruction made by the US Secretary of State, George C. Marshall, on 5 June 1947, France, represented by Georges Bidault (left), and the United Kingdom, represented by Ernest Bevin (right), organise a conference in Paris for all European States with an interest in this offer.

On 12 July 1947, the Conference on European Economic Cooperation began in Paris. It brought together all those countries accepting the reconstruction aid proposed to Europe by the US Secretary of State, George Marshall.

On 12 July 1947, in Paris, Georges Bidault, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, opens the Conference on European Economic Cooperation, attended by representatives from the 16 countries of Western Europe that have accepted the economic assistance proposed one month previously by George C. Marshall, US Secretary of State.

On 12 July 1947, representatives of the countries accepting reconstruction aid, offered to Europe under the Marshall Plan, met at the conference on European economic cooperation, held in Paris. The Italian newspaper Il nuovo Corriere della Sera describes the political and economic issues involved.

On 13 July 1947, the Paris Conference of the Sixteen on European Economic Cooperation envisages the establishment of a Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC) entrusted with drawing up a report on the economic requirements of Western Europe.

On 13 July 1947, during the Paris Conference on European Economic Cooperation, the French diplomat Hervé Alphand submits the initial report of the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC) and expresses his satisfaction with the spirit of solidarity which motivates the representatives of the 16 participating states.

On 14 July 1947, the second day of the Paris Conference on European Economic Cooperation, the Danish Ambassador, Johan Kruse, expresses his satisfaction with the efforts being made to revive the European economies and outlines his country’s most pressing requirements.

Speaking on 14 July 1947, the second day of the Paris Conference on European Economic Cooperation, the Greek Ambassador, Mr Raphael, calls upon European countries to work together for the recovery of the devastated economies of the Continent.

On 14 July 1947, the second day of the Paris Conference on European Economic Cooperation, Sean Lemass, Head of the Irish delegation, reviews the establishment of a coordinated economic recovery plan for Europe and emphasises Ireland's commitment to the recovery programme.

On 15 July 1947, during a working session of the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC), the French delegation submits to its partners a draft questionnaire which will enable an assessment to be made of the requirements and scope for economic recovery of the various countries in Western Europe.

On 18 July 1947, the Netherlands delegation to the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC) comments on the French draft Questionnaire and recalls the causes of the economic crisis affecting European countries.

On 23 July 1947, in an article published in the French daily newspaper Le Carrefour, Anthony Eden, British Prime Minister, analyses the outcome of the Conference on European Economic Cooperation held in Paris on 12 July 1947.

On 29 July 1947, the Netherlands Delegation submits a memorandum on the economic revival of Europe to the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC).

On 15 August 1947, in Paris, during a working session of the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC), the British delegation calls for the liberalisation of trade and the creation of a European customs union.

Le 23 août 1947, la délégation britannique auprès du Comité de coopération économique européenne (CCEE) analyse les mesures économiques à envisager pour reconstruire l'Europe et évoque l'idée de création d'une union douanière européenne.

On 26 August 1947, the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC), draws up in Paris a document devoted to the economic reconstruction of Germany and to the country’s place in a democratic Europe.

On 27 August 1947, the French delegation to the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC) comments on the preliminary draft of the British memorandum concerning European customs unions.

On 20 September 1947, in Paris, Hervé Alphand, Director-General of Economic, Financial and Technical Affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlines the main thrust of the report on the recovery of the European economies drawn up by the Committee for European Economic Cooperation (CEEC) for the American authorities.

On 22 September 1947, the final day of the Paris Conference on European Economic Cooperation, Pierre-Henri Teitgen, Vice-President of the French Council, outlines the steps taken by France to revive its economy and play its part in the recovery of Europe.

On 22 September 1947, the final day of the Paris Conference on European Economic Cooperation, the British Foreign Minister, Ernest Bevin, expresses his satisfaction with the substance of the final report submitted by the French diplomat Hervé Alphand and hopes that he will see a devastated Europe rise from the ashes.

On 30 September 1947, commenting on the outcome of the Conference on European Economic Cooperation held in Paris, the German daily newspaper Die Welt welcomes the joint efforts made by the United States and European countries to stimulate economic recovery in Europe.

‘On 9 December 1947, the crisis first breaks out at the negotiating table of the Four Powers. Europe: Let’s hope that no one lets go!’ On 13 December 1947, the cartoonist Ernst Maria Lang comments on Europe’s fears about the conflict between the Western Allies and Moscow regarding application of the Marshall Plan.

In his memoirs, Georges Bidault, former French Foreign Minister, discusses the Marshall proposal for economic aid to Europe and describes how the European countries involved organised themselves to receive this US aid.