NO DIVERSION OF BRITISH FOOD

Evening Star, Issue 25730, 1 March 1946, Page 5

NO DIVERSION OF BRITISH FOOD

SURPLUS STOCKS MAY BE SENT (Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 28. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr John Hynd, denied that Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery flew to England especially to demand more flood for the Germans, or that Field-Marshal Montgomery was seeing Mr Attlee. Mr Hynd, who is directly responsible for British administration in Germany and Austria, said: " We did not ask him to come, but quite obviously he had either to come here, or we had to go to Germany. We are in touch with, him from day to day on the subject." He added thaij certain decisions would be taken at his conference with the Field-Marshal tonight concerning the internal situation in Germany, but there was no question of diverting British food to Germany. If any food were sent it would be surplus stocks, such as odd quantities of potatoes " of not over-high quality," if available.

Mr Hynd said that whatever decisions were taken they would have to be drastic. . He reiterated that the liberated countries and India must have priorities for what food was available. Agency correspondents say the appointment was arranged for Lord Montgomery to meet Mr Attlee informally at 10 Downing Street next week. There was no basis for the suggestion that the meeting is exclusively connected with food plight, but it is practically certain that the subject will be discussed.

The monthly report of the Cqm-mander-in-Chie'f of the United States zone, General McNarney, make's it clear that the Germans have been pulled through the critical winter period which had been expected, says the Associated Press Berlin correspondent. The Germans average 1,920 calories daily, with serious deficiencies noted only among the aged. Nutritional surveys showed that women were faring best, and even gaining weight, and the people's health generally was holding up. They -were peaceful and obedient. It was discovered that there are still 556,000 displaced persons in the zone, half of them Stateless. The industrial situation has improved, with an estimated output of 10 to 12 per cent, of the current capacity, but this is still far from meeting reasonable requirements.