DISORDERS IN PARIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 113, 22 February 1941, Page 5

DISORDERS IN PARIS.

ACUTE SHORTAGE OF FOOD. GERMAN BAN ON. POTATOES. LONDON, .February 20. Reports from France indicate that the acute shortage of food available for the civilian population under the German regime lias caused serious disturbances. The shortages ni'e said to have been most acute in Paris, Calais and the Channel ports. Resentment is felt over the sale of an undrinkable mixture labelled coffee, which is all that is available to French civilians, while in most shops notices indicate that coffee is for German troops only. Disorders in the central market in Paris, which is, controlled by Germans, have caused the Germans to deprive the people of Paris of potatoes for 40 days as punishment. The first food demonstrations in the suburbs of Paris 1 occurred yesterday, when women holding babies gathered simultaneously at various town halls and held up their children, demanding milk. Police dispersed the crowds. A conference is reported to have opened in Paris to-day between representatives of the Vichy ‘Government and Germany to discuss the question of collaboration in economic organisation and in the production and distribution of raw materials. The Paris radio has named the United States Ambassador (Admiral W. D. Leahy) as encouraging those in opposition to M. Laval. It also denounced "people near and even in the Government, all of whom are creatures maintained on our soil by Britain. Admiral Darlan will doubtless seek advice from M. Laval before it is too late.” The Official German News Agency forecasts further Cabinet changes at Vichy.