DIAMONDS LOOTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 248, 1 August 1946, Page 8

DIAMONDS LOOTED

NAZIS IN AMSTERDAM Fewer than 700 skilled diamond workers are left in Amsterdam, according to Tan Bevan, a “Sydney Morning Herald” war correspondent. Before the war there were many thousands employed? in the industry, which, at the height of its prosperity, virtually supported half the city. Many craftsmen were killed by the Germans a few weeks ago, when evacuation trains from the diamond factory at Celle were deliberately driven into the flood waters. Thousands of others who have gone were Jews sent by the Germans to death in Poland* Their loss is a far greater blow to 'Amsterdam’s economy than 23,000 carats of diamonds which the Germans plundered from Jewish dealers and 32,000 carats Which they bought at ridiculously low “official” prices. The total stock of unset diamonds in Amsterdam to-day is estimated at 12,000 carats of rough diamonds and 10,000 carats of polished diamonds. Most of these were cunningly hidden throughout the occupation. Dealings have not yet revived at the Bourse, but a meeting has been held to discuss plans for reviving trade relations with London and New York, and for sending an official party to Germany to search for the plundered diamonds, which could be recovered by experts.