FOOD IN SOVIET ZONE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25226, 3 July 1947, Page 7

FOOD IN SOVIET ZONE

GRAVE SHORTAGE REPORTED

LONDON, July 1. “The Russian authorities, lor the first time, are allowing reports of the grave food situation to emerge from their zone,” says the correspondent of the British United Press in Berlin.

“A Russian-controlled broadcast from Berlin said that the food situation was so critical in Saxony that food kitchens had been opened. “Reports of food shortages from all garts of the Russian zope reaching the erlin Russian-licensed newspapers report that there are critical potato shortages as a result of last winter’s severe frosts, and that deliveries of potatoes from the zone to Berlin under the four-Power agreement are already 69.000 tons short.

“The newspaper ‘Neue Presse’ alleges that the French occupation authorities are baiting the Saarlanders, who are eating French butter, margarine. sugar, dates, banana paste, and an increased bread ration. This is affecting the people’s attitude. If an election were held now the Saarlanders probably would vote for an economic union with France because they see no other way to exist.”