WHOLESALE FAMINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 24 December 1945, Page 5

WHOLESALE FAMINE

UNAVOIDABLE IN HUNGARY TERRIFYING STATISTICS Budapest, Dec., 22. A wholcsame famine seems unavoidable in Hungary this winter said the Food Minister, Mr Baranyos, who stated that the chief medical officer had presented terrifying statistics with mortality exceeding births by more than 50 per cent. Budapest by the middle of January would oe devoid of flour. At present they had seven days’ stocks of flour, one-third of which was maize, and had no fats, meat or sugar. TREATY RATIFIED The Hungarian Supreme Council ratified the Russian-Hungarian commercial treaty after the political committee of the National Assembly nad amended the original clauses to leave open the possibility of Hungary concluding similar treaties with other countries. (Britain and America on 21st October were reported to have piotested against the treaty which Moscow announced on 19th August.) “GIVE US BREAD” (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) London, Dec. 23. Crowds shouting “Give us bread,” demonstrated outside the Hungarian Parliament yesterday, reports Reuter’s Budapest correspondent. The Prime Minister, Mr Zoltan Tildy, appeared on the balcony and told them that the Government was doing its best to improve food supplies. The correspondent says that the food situation is worsening daily. CLAIM BY AUSTRIA RETURN OF SOUTH TYROL Vienna, Dec, 21. Austria would claim the return to her of South Tyrol said the new chancellor Dr. Leopold Figl, in his first speech to Parliament. He declared that the restoration of territorial unity was one of the most important steps for reconstruction. He appealed to the Allies for a reduction in the occupation forces and the opening of demarcation lines. Dealing with domestic issues Dr. Figl said the Government intended to nationalise a number of key industries, particularly certain sections of the power industry. The Government would not hesitate to step in when private enterprise failed from social and political business viewpoints he promised co-operation with neighbours, particularly Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Yugoslavia with whom it was the Government’s most urgent task to make contact and discover the solution of differences. An official statement regarding the Austrian claims for parts of south Tyrol mentioned in Dr. Figl’s statement makes it clear that Austria asks only for territory inhabited by the German-speax-ing population. Austria has transmitted her claims to the Allies, CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND NEIGHBOURS Prague, Dec, 21. The Foreign Minister, Mr Masaryk, expressed marked impatience with the Polish and Hungarian attitudes to Czechoslovakia. He said emphatically that Czechoslovakia would not give territory to either but was ready to talk on other subjects with both. Mr Masaryk added that the Czech Government had sent a note to Warsaw to this cIT-