GERMANS CANNOT EXPECT MORE FOOD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14573, 17 January 1948, Page 3

GERMANS CANNOT EXPECT MORE FOOD

PRESENT SITUATION DESCRIBED AS TEST FOR CO-OPERATION OF PEOPLE

TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR STRIKE AFFECTS FOUR INDUSTRIAL TOWNS STATEMENT THAT BRITISH HAVE NO INTENTION OF LEAVING CHEERED London, Jan. 16. With unrest in the Ruhr becoming’ graver, Lord Pakenham, Minister in Charge of British Administration in Germany, told the Germans today that he thought an increase in food imports would not be possible. It was now up to the Germans to help themselves. He described the present situation as a test for the cooperation of German democracy. Lord Pakenham was speaking in Hamburg. A 24-hour food strike, which started in the Ruhr today, affects four industrial towns. At one of them, Duisberg, a trade union leader called on the occupation authorities to supply troops to help force German farmers to give up huge food stocks which he alleged they were holding back. A German audience which he addressed in Berlin yesterday, loudly cheered when Lord Pakenham said: "We British have no intention of leaving Berlin.’’ Lord Pakenham added: ‘‘The British Government is genuinely and honestly working for the unity of Germany. If you meet anyone who maintains the contrary, tell him he is either singularly ill-informed or deliberately perverting the truth. ’ ’ It was stated in an earlier message that Mr G. Hughes, head cf the food and agriculture section of the British Control Commission, had said there was plenty of meat in the combined zone to fulfil the meat ration if the Germans made collections properly. No special Anglo-American help could be expected during the next critical period.