URGENT STEPS NEEDED

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 29, 29 October 1945, Page 7

URGENT STEPS NEEDED

Danger Of Epidemic In Europe MR. BEVIN WARNS WORLD

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

(Received October 28, 9 p.m.) LONDON, October 26.

There was no material destruction or world shortage which made inevitable the millions of deaths which it was predicted would occur in Europe this winter through cold and starvation, said Sir Arthur Salter, speaking in the debate in the House of Commons *on the Consolidated Fund No. 1 Bill.

If a tragedy on this scale occurred the reason would have to be found in the sphere of organization, in administrative defects, and in political and psychological factors. He contended that the coal mines were able to provide all the coal needed, that there was ample cargo tonnage available for transport, and that there-wus sufficient motor transport in the hands of the British, American and Canadian aT uIJ ies for distribution. Even now, if representations were made with sufficient urgency it might be possible to have the mass .removals in Eastern Europe carried out more in accordance with the Potsdam decision and postponed beyond the worst period, of the winter. Mr. Michael Foot said Russia should bq,,associated with Britain in representations to the Polish, Czech, and Hungarian Governments to stop the winter deportations of Germans “We are not demanding that (lie Germans should take a place in the queue ahead of our allies. We are protesting against a wanton atid deliberate creation of a new sore when nil Europe is crying out from its wounds.”

Tlie Foreign Secretary. Mr. Bovin, replying to the debate, said that Europe’s troubles wore the culmination of nearly 30 years of war. Unless definite steps were taken and every means utilized there was a danger of a terrible epidemic in Europe this winter. The present, conditions were a development Of-Hitlev's policy. It was obvious the Hitler regime intended, if it could not win, to leave Europe in complete anarchy. He urged members not. to be too hard on such countries as Poland aud Czechoslovakia' in the matter of deportations. Such countries could not be expected to

handle everything perfectly within six months with their improvised organizations. In the beginning a system had, to be devised to take the place ot the Government in Germany. It might have been better if zones had not been created, but there were grave political considerations, which he did not. want to introduce into the debate conlentiously. “I don’t think frontiers and spheres of iullucnce arc as important as they used to lie. with the development of science,” said Mr. Bevin “I don’t believe transfer of territory means so. much in security, but there i.‘ is. . Nations which have been attacked look for security, and that has a great bearing on their attitude.” ‘ He said Britain could do little by herself Io relieve Ihe conditions. She was doing everything to feed the Germans in the British zone, but that had to be balanced against the British people's resistance to their supplies being cut. More wheat must be supplied if a disaster was to be avoided. UNRRA was growing in strength and efficiency, but its responsibilities were also growing. Unless the United states Congress carried the vote of £450,000,000 for UNRRA the situation in a few weeks would be disastrous. . Recalling tin- recent Council ot I'oreigti Ministers, Mr. Bevin said the Americans raised th" question of Europe S waterways. lie thought that it the strategy of spheres of iullucnce could ue eliminated nothing could do much Io reImbililalc Europe ns the Oder. Rhone, Elbe nml Danube Coinm'msioiis. Farts "I the rivers were clear, others were not. but .America was willing to bring machinery and clear them. Il was a. humanitarian thing Io do. He believed it would not endanger Russia, or any other country. , , . , , c Rel'errin" to Yugoslavia, which before the war fed a great part of Europe's huge populations. Mr. Bevin said toon production there was limited because, tor some reason he could not nndersfaml. they were maintaining a great army ot ■1(1(1.001) Io GOO,OOO. . The Minister of Food. Mr. Ben Smith, who also replied to the debate, said the food position was not consistently hart throughout Europe. There were even regions whore the diet tn some respects was better than in Britain Bv the eml of December Britain alone would Irive sent 1.009.0110 t-m- of food tn Europe. This was only possible by imposing i-onsiih 1-iibl" sacrillee- oil her own people. Unfortunately, world food Siipplv prospects were seriously disquieting. with serious deficiencies m al l ttle main foods