GRAVE POSITION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1945, Page 5

GRAVE POSITION

LIBERATED EUROPE

Allies' Efforts To Give Relief British Official Wireless Rec. 2 p.m. . RUGBY, Feb. 14. Conditions in France, Belgium and other liberated countries were the subject of a statement by the Minister of State, Mr. Richard K. Law, in the House of Commons. He explained the steps which had been taken to meet civilian needs. Conditions, he said, varied greatly, not only between country and country, but between districts in the same country. Lack of transport created almost insoluble difficulties in different regions. Undoubtedly there was great hardship, but that

did not mean there was an .overall shortage. France was producing as much as during the occupation, when the Germans claimed a share. The principal difficulty in France was distribution. In Belgium local production, together with SHAEF imports, which were being rapidly increased, should be sufficient, with proper distribution, to attain the present target of 2000 calories per head per day. Collection and distribution of foodstuffs in Belgium had not been satisfactorily organised. In the liberated areas of Holland the difficulties had been, increased by the fact that they were still the scene of active military operations, but the situation was improving. "The economic situation in liberated Europe is certainly grave," Mr. Law added. "Much remains to be done, and it will require the unremitting efforts of the British and American Governments, as well as of the Governments of liberated Europe, to solve the problems which face us. We have to remember, too, that the requirements of the liberated areas are in direct competition with urgent military demands. Nevertheless. I am confident that the problems will be solved. I am confident that our European Allies understand that we and the United States are doing everything in our power, and that they understand that their objective as well as ours is to bring the war in Europe to an end at the earliest possible moment."