FOOD IN BELGIUM

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 7, 3 October 1944, Page 5

FOOD IN BELGIUM

Position Still Dangerous In

Industrial Areas

“The New Zealand Press,” says au official declaration issued yesterday by the Consulate-General of Belgium in New Zealand, “published recently certain Statements emanating from certain journalists, conspicuously among whom figures the American Knickerbocker, at the time correspondent in Brussels of the Chicago ‘Sun,’ to the effect that ‘the French and the Belgians as a whole were eating more and better food than the British when the Allies invaded Europe.’ Knickerbocker added to this false report the cruel and insulting query : 'Where are the shabby and downtrodden victims of the Germans?’

“Tlie Belgian Government’s reply is ns'follows: The food situation is still difficult in liberated Belgium (September 29). There has been no distribution of meat for four weeks. The population obeyed the 8.8. C. injunction to accumulate food stocks before the Allies arrived, but in the excitement of liberation pressed these on tire liberating troops, giving a deceptive impression of plenty. The position is critical in the cities and industrial areas but less serious in country districts. “The Brussels newspaper ‘Soir’ writes: ‘Our Allied friends should not judge the food si Imi lion by the meals served to some of their officers in choice restaurants, which doubtless have some provisions left from the defunct, black market. The population generally are having to tighten their bells ds they have had to do throughout the war. Today for most people the food supply is obviously deficient and all doctors are warning us of danger.’ ”