<P> Also established were counterpart funds, which used Marshall Plan aid to establish funds in the local currency . According to ECA rules, recipients had to invest 60% of these funds in industry . This was prominent in Germany, where these government - administered funds played a crucial role in lending money to private enterprises which would spend the money rebuilding . These funds played a central role in the reindustrialization of Germany . In 1949--50, for instance, 40% of the investment in the German coal industry was by these funds . </P> <P> The companies were obligated to repay the loans to the government, and the money would then be lent out to another group of businesses . This process has continued to this day in the guise of the state owned KfW bank, (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, meaning Reconstruction Credit Institute). The Special Fund, then supervised by the Federal Economics Ministry, was worth over DM 10 billion in 1971 . In 1997 it was worth DM 23 billion . Through the revolving loan system, the Fund had by the end of 1995 made low - interest loans to German citizens amounting to around DM 140 billion . The other 40% of the counterpart funds were used to pay down the debt, stabilize the currency, or invest in non-industrial projects . France made the most extensive use of counterpart funds, using them to reduce the budget deficit . In France, and most other countries, the counterpart fund money was absorbed into general government revenues, and not recycled as in Germany . </P> <P> The Netherlands received US aid for economic recovery in the Netherlands Indies . However, in January 1949, the American government suspended this aid in response to the Dutch efforts to restore colonial rule in Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution, and it implicitly threatened to suspend Marshall aid to the Netherlands if the Dutch government continued to oppose the independence of Indonesia . </P> <P> The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) contributed heavily to the success of the Technical Assistance Program . The United States Congress passed a law on June 7, 1940 that allowed the BLS to "make continuing studies of labor productivity" and appropriated funds for the creation of a Productivity and Technological Development Division . The BLS could then use its expertise in the field of productive efficiency to implement a productivity drive in each Western European country receiving Marshall Plan aid . Counterpart funds were used to finance large scale tours of American industry . France, for example, sent 500 missions with 4700 businessmen and experts to tour American factories, farms, stores and offices . They were especially impressed with the prosperity of American workers, and how they could purchase an inexpensive new automobile for nine months work, compared to 30 months in France . </P>

How did the soviet union approach disarmament discussions after world war ii