On 16 June 1949, the French daily newspaper Combat comments on the schedule for economic and social recovery published by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT).

On 6 December 1949, the French Communist daily newspaper L’Humanité criticises the Marshall Plan on the basis, in particular, of statistics which illustrate the economic situation in France.

On 10 December 1947, the French newspaper L’Action vehemently refutes the argument that the French economy needs the Marshall Plan to ensure its recovery.

In April 1948, Jean Monnet is involved in negotiations in Washington concerning the distribution of material and financial aid to Europe under the Marshall Plan. In this letter written on 18 April 1948 and addressed to Robert Schuman, President of the French Council, he describes the mood of his US colleagues and ends by emphasising the need for a European federation.

The French Socialist, Léon Blum, was the former President of the French Council and briefly French Foreign Minister. Here, he places the Marshall Plan in a broad European context, and suggests that the United Nations Economic Committee for Europe, established in March 1947, should be responsible for its practical organisation.

On 24 July 1947, Jean Monnet, Commissioner-General of the French National Planning Board, writes a secret detailed note to Georges Bidault, the French Foreign Minister, concerning the implications of the Marshall Plan for French policy on Germany and on Europe.

On 18 April 1948, Jean Monnet informs French Foreign Minister Georges Bidault of the American view of the Marshall Plan and of the progress in negotiations in which he is involved in the United States on the issue of supplying France with food products originating in the USA.

‘Economic morass: Spinach!' On 10 April 1948, the Netherlands cartoonist, Jordaan, parodies the adventures of Popeye and emphasises the benefits of the US economic aid granted to the Netherlands under the Marshall Plan (on the left: Louis Bel, Netherlands Prime Minister).

On 6 May 1948, in connection with the establishment of the Marshall Plan, the Belgian daily newspaper La Dernière Heure considers the possible application of the US aid granted to Belgium.

Table showing aid received by the Netherlands under the Marshall Plan between 1948 and 1953.