AT ROCK BOTTOM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22289, 26 March 1947, Page 5

AT ROCK BOTTOM

PLIGHT BRITISH ZONE SLUMP INDUSTRIAL BURDEN (11 a.m.) HERFORD. March 25. Many Germans in the British zone preferred Nazism to democracy and there were bound to be more attempts at a Nazi revival, said Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, military governor of the British zone of Germany. The British zone this winter had touched rock bottom and there was a general lowering of morale. The German press had reported fully every story of a German dying of cold, every reported break-down in the food distribution and every aggravation of Germany’s situation. This fostered the brooding depression already in the German mind before the winter.

Industry was starting the spring worse of than the spring of 1946. There was a virtual collapse in the autumn of 1946. Industry had to restart now without reserve stocks. The British taxpayers could not expect relief from the occupation burdens in 1947 but they should notice a big difference in two years.

The authorities hoped .to maintain the present food ration and even to make up the rations not issued during file winter. Further relaxation of the non-fraternisation rules were being discussed.