FOOD IN BERLIN

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 7, 9 July 1945, Page 5

FOOD IN BERLIN

Occupation Hitch

B RITISH CONTROL NOT FUNCTIONING

Eec.lla.m; V- . ■ •;• LONDON,;, July\& ./■-■'. "The highest British quarters iii Berlin reveal that the British,' military Government has not yet begun to function because of-.a-Rus-sian ' stipulation "that the British should feed and fuel the entires sector of British occupation, says Ueuter's correspondent. .Mean-* . while, the Russians are still in complete control of the Government^ of the capital. . . ■

On the day British and Americans were scheduled to take over the military government of their areas, Marshal Zhukov gave orders to the detachments of his military* Government in the British and American sectors to continue their administration. A meeting was held later, at which Marshal Zhukov, Lieut.General Clay/ Mr. Robert Murphy, Lieut-General Sir Ronald Weeks, General Lyne, and others discussed the question of feeding Berlin. It is learned on good authority that no agreement was reached on this point or -on a proposal by the Western Allies for a barter agreement on products from the respective areas. of occupied Berlin. Brigadier W. R. Hinde, chief of the military Government in the Britishoccupied zone, said: "We shall not operate until these issues have been solved. I take the view that matters must be settled by the control commission or possibly even higher." Asked if the Western Allies might leave Berlin should the difficulties be insurmountable, Brigadier Hinde replied: "I do not think there is any doubt in the minds of the British and American authorities that we should stay. Everything depends on whether matters can be settled." Brigadier Hinde disclosed that the exact official area of the British occupation zone in Berlin comprises the municipal zones of Reinickendorf, Wed-

aged drains, lack of heating, the shorty age of soao, wrecked houses, ;: ana| under-nourishment are helping to in-? crease typhus, gastro-enteritis, . ana* other diseases. The authorities warm that conditions cannot be expected ■■ta improve and that a grave position wile arise in winter which the population! must endure in windowless and fuel-^ less homes in temperatures sometimes! 20 degrees below zero. The ration* system is chaotic. Domestic fats and; meats are desperately short. The staple? diet of Berliners is black bread, pota--toes, and whatever can be gained by barter.