UNITED NEWS [Series Title]

Edition of US-produced wartime newsreel, featuring the launch of the last Liberty ship on the Pacific coast, the SS Benjamin Warner; the visit of US Vice-President Henry Wallace to China; the Bretton Woods conference in New Hampshire, and a visit by General Charles de Gaulle to the United States.

Part 1: United News main titles. 'Last Liberty Ship launched'; wide shot at the Kaiser Shipyard in Richmond, California, looking up at the bow of a Liberty Ship, the SS Benjamin Warner, with a placard reading 'Pacific Coast's last Liberty Ship / Permanente's 519th'. Looking up at the name 'Benjamin Warner'. A group of male attendees of the ceremony. A monument, in the form of a miniatue Statue of Liberty, is unveiled. People looking at the statue, including Henry Kaiser. Close-up of a sign board which reads 'Hull 2700 / Boat Foreman N Nelson / Keel laid June 13, 1944 / Launched - / Tons erected (today - to date) 50 - 2856 / Man hours 2791 - 28740' The sponsor strikes the bow with a bottle of champagne. The ship goes down the slipway. One man in the audience wipes his eyes. The ship in the harbour.

Part 2: 'Vice-President Wallace visits China'; at Chungking a Douglas C-54 Skymaster taxiing on a muddy airstrip. Close-up Chiang Kai-Shek. Wallace disemplanes. He is greeted by Chiang and another Chinese diplomat. Close-up sign 'American Red Cross service men's club'; Wallace meets female staff of the club and plays volleyball with some American troops. At an orphanage Wallace is greeted by young girls. Wallace attends a banquet in his honour. Close-ups of Chiang, Madame Chiang and Wallace. A toast is drunk.

Part 3: 'United Nations hold monetary conference'; at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire a train halts at a station. Delegates leaving the train. The Mount Washington hotel. Buses arrive at the hotel. Delegates H H Kung (for China) and US Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, and his wife, on a balcony. Interior conference hall, seen from the stage. Morgenthau addresses the conference. Delegates outside; they pose for a group photo.

Part 4: 'Gen. de Gaulle in United States'; at Washington National Airport a Douglas C-54 Skymaster of Air Transport Command comes in to land. Taxiing. De Gaulle disemplanes and is greeted. A battery of field guns fires a gun salute. United States Army Air Forces guard of honour presenting arms. De Gaulle at the salute. General Marshall, Admiral King and General Arnold at the salute. He meets Marshall, King, Arnold, and General Watson and Admiral Brown. De Gaulle departs by car. His car arrives elsewhere and he goes inside. Interior; De Gaulle meets President Roosevelt, and is greeted by Cordell Hull (Secretary of State), James Forrestal (Navy Secretary) and Harold Ickes (Interior Secretary). De Gaulle lays a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Arlington Cemetery. De Gaulle's tour continues; he travels through New York City streets packed with onlookers. He is applauded by a crowd at New York City Hall; he puts his arms in the air, fists clenched, in triumph. Crowd and photographers. De Gaulle admires the view from the roof of the RCA Building. De Gaulle addresses camera and speaks of his pleasure to be in America and his 'common understanding' of common problems with President Roosevelt. He thanks the American people for their commitment to the war and the joint Franco-American march to victory in Berlin and Tokyo. End title.

35mm