Material Rehabilitation In Progress

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24567, 16 May 1945, Page 7

Material Rehabilitation In Progress

AGRICULTURE, FINANCE, BASIC INDUSTRIES (NX Pm* Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 15. “The American occupation forces in Germany are already coping with the problems of material rehabilitation,” reports a correspondent of the Associated Press. “In spite of a lack of clear directives, they are acting on the lines of General Eisenhower’s statement: ‘We come as conquerors, not as oppressors.* “Reference to their activities as welfare work is officially forbidden. Both the British and the Americans are almost desperately anxious to avoid criticism. They are initiating a ‘soft peace.’ “The work they are already doing includes the distribution to farmers of seed potatoes, without which there would-be po 'Crop, decontamination of water supplies, decontamination of people coming in from areas where typhus has broken out, and reorganisation of factories for the manufacture of soap, shoes, medicines, cloth, and lorries. “German trade unions are given authority to organise wherever this is demanded by the conditions. Civilian volunteers are being trained in mine detection. Forestera are told to resume planting. Wehrmacbt hordes are lent to'farmers. New < school books are being printed. “Banks in this area are reopening under the supervision cl Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Prather, former professor of finance’in Syracuse University, who is ready to -£ tendency towards inflation. New tax systems are being sftidied and approved. “The revival of agriculture is being undertaken tb meet the needs of foreign displaced persons as well as Germans, The resumption of production in "basic industries is to meet'Amed military needs and minimum civilian needs.”