FOOD POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 191, 13 August 1940, Page 7

FOOD POSITION.

PEOPLE OF EUROPE. Matter Of Nasi Dfatributioß Rather That Shortage. British OSdal Wlrelesa. (Reed. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 12. Althodgh there has been no news of the receipt bj the British Government of a request which has been fully reported in British newspaper* from the European Food Distributing Commission to raise the blockade in order to supply food to the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Norway, where, according to New York reports the commission says, "18,000,000 persons are facing starvation," it is expected that sneh a request will be forthcoming and will be given a considered reply. Meanwhile, it is pointed out in wellinformed quarters that the German Government is continually reiterating, firstly, that Germany has instituted an efficient blockade against Britain; secondly, that the British blockade against Germany is ineffective; and, thirdly, that the food situation in Germany is excellent. Indeed, in relation to the last point, Walther Funk, Nasi Minister of 'Economics, in the latest of many official pronouncements on this subject, is reported to have said, at the opening of the Kosinberg Fair, that a "food scarcity in Germany is now impossible.*' In view of these allegations, insisted upon as facts by Xaxi leaders, informed quarters in London express the opinion that the problem would seem really to be one of fair distribution of and future supplies. In these circumstances it is difficult to see what help could be given by raising the blockade, which the German Government declares to be virtually inoperative.