News on Screen

Series

Series Name

World Pictorial News

Issue

Issue No.

277

Date Released

26 Aug 1946

Stories in this Issue:

• 1. Paris Peace Conference
• 2. Jubilee of Motoring
• 3. Sports News

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 3

Summary

SHOTLIST: Peace conference of twenty-one nations that had opposed the Axis meets in Paris to draft treaties. Delegates include Mr Bevin and AV Alexander of England, Molotov of Russia, Byrnes of America, Mackenzie King of Canada and Monsieur Bidault of France. At the Luxembourg Palace, Monsieur Bidault declares the conference open. NFTVA Catalogue entry: "Main title and credit (00.16) Paris Peace Conference (00.20) LS over Seine to Eiffel Tower; closer view of Tower (00.26). Delegates cars pass along police-lined road; crowds behind barriers; MCU of crowd (00.33). AV Alexander alights from car (00.35) MCU and then CU of Clement Attlee (00.41). LS Luxembourg Palace (00.47). Delegates cross forecourt and enter palace (00.51). Arrival of Canadian delegation led by Mackenzie King (00.54). Russian (?) delegation arrive (00.59). Arrival of French delegates led by Bidault (01.04). HAS of parliament chamber, conference in progress (01.09). Shots of delegates from Australia, China, USA, Poland, India and Russia. HAS from rear of Bidault addressing the conference (01.34). He sits down to applause (01.39) Titles of individual items are also given in Arabic. There is commentary and music but no further background sound except for audience noise during the boxing match. World Pictorial News was a composite newsreel released by the Cairo office of the MOI. Most of the British newsreels covered the AAA meeting for release 25 July 1946 and the peace conference, motoring jubilee and boxing match for release 1 August 1946. It is likely that Gaumont-British News is the source of the British items."

Researcher Comments

Commentary: Paris, for the second time in a generation, is the mecca of peacemakers. As after the First World War, so now are the political leaders of the nations assembled in the French Capital to frame the Peace Treaty. Owing to Ernest Bevin’s indisposition, the British delegation - which includes Mr AV Alexander, is led by the Prime Minister. Mr Attlee’s diplomatic gifts now find their greatest scope. Mr Mackenzie King, veteran Canadian Premier, represents the senior Dominion at the Luxembourg Palace - scene of the Conference. French Premier Bidault, head of the host nation, presided, at the opening. Mr Byrnes led the American representatives. Molotov, well-body-guarded as usual, leads for Russia. There was no need for undue optimism, in view of experience at UNO - and the foreign minister’s conference earlier in the year. It was to a calm assembly that the French premier declared the Peace Conference open.

Keywords

Politics and government; Buildings and structures; Diplomacy

Credits:

Commentator

Sergeant Fitchen

This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name

Imperial War Museum Film and Video Archive

Email

film@iwm.org.uk

Web

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/film

Phone

020 7416 5291

Fax

020 7416 5379

Address

Lambeth Road
London SE1 6HZ

Notes

The IWM also preserves the original nitrate film copies for the World War II period of British Paramount News, Gaumont British News and Universal News.

Series held

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