GERMAN METHODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23781, 8 October 1940, Page 8

GERMAN METHODS

ECONOMIC DOMINANCE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES NEW FORM OF LOOTING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British "Wireless LONDON", Oct. 6 The Financial News to-day devotes an editorial to the methods and extent of Nazi plunder in occupied territories, which, it says, have been known for some time in the caso of Poland and Czecho-Slovakia, but which were untih recently less obvious in respect to northern and western Europe. However, the populations of these later victims are now awake.

"They know that although there has been no looting in the literal sense," the paper says, "their countries are being plundered bv the invaders much more thoroughly than in the days when plunder was the, victorious armies' duo reward, for looting is now organised with the scientific thoroughness characteristic of the Nazi regime." Currency Manipulation

Devaluation of the currencies of the defeated nations was one of the obvious methods of exploitation. By this method German purchases', stimulated by a favourable reichmark rate, wore a dead loss to the countries concerned, which were deprived of their goods and received in exchange claims on the Reich which would be cancelled in due course.

The Germans got their goods while the conquered nations wore loft with inflated currencies and depleted commodity stocks. The Financial News adds: "It might he argued that, after all, a country can only he plundered once. That, however. is precisely where the superiority of Hitler's methods over those of Ghenghiz Ivhan is most apparent. The German conquerors are proceeding to organise production in the conquered countries for their own benefit. Tlusv make full use of factories which they need and dismantle others so they can use their equipment elsewhere. Exploitation of Labour

"They exploit the labour resources of the conquered countries by forcing the unemployed masses to accept work in Germany. The terms of their employment are most unfavourable—but the conquered cannot expect, of course, to enjoy the same standard of In ing as the ruling race. "The production of goods needed by Germany is stimulated by the self-same inflation which accompanied the acquisition of pre-war supplies of goods of conquered countries by Germany. Production is stimulated by artificial depreciation of national currencies. Once the goods are available, the occupation authorities have the first call on them and the native population must be satisfied with whatever is left over. "Go-Slow" Policy "This process may continue for a long time unless producers in conquered countries, realising its implications, refuse to lend themselves to it. "In thfiir own interests they should curtail production and conceal their stocks as far as possible. This is already being done on an extensive scale in Czecho-Slovakia and Poland. Other victims of Nazi aggression ought to follow their example before the process of their exploitation is carried much further. "Fortunately, there are signs that the realisation of the true nature of Nazi rule is evoking increasing tendency to passive resistance. By such means, in their present evil hour, conquered peoples can contribute toward their salvation."

BRITISH WAR FUNDS SAVINGS AND GIFTS TOTAL GROWING DAILY British Wireless LONDON, Oct. B A total of £9,923.263 was raised last week m the war savings campaign, of which £2,878,553 was from the sale of savings' certificates, £2,139,650 from the sale of defence bonds, and £4.914,000 from the increase in balance due to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and Trustee Savings Bank. Since the opening of the campaign a grand total of £386,791,696 has been raised. Nearly £640,000 was promised within half an hour of the launching of Cardiff's War Weapons Week yesterday. The Lord Mayor, Alderman Henry Johns, expressed dissatisfaction with the city's aim of only £1,000,000. "It should have been £2,000,000," he said. "For the honour and credit of Cardiff, as leader in Wales and the bordering countries of England we must immediately declare in favour of £2,000,000." The Lord Mayor of London's Bed Cross and St. John's fund for sick and wounded soldiers in the war was increased yesterday by £3OOO to £3.227,000*. Gifts included £1125 from the people of Ceylon as a 17th instalment, making a total contribution of £29,169.

MUSIC IN SHELTERS PROPOSAL BY UNION LONDON, Oct. 15 If approval is given to a plan which the Musicians' Union has submitted to the Minister of Labour, 100 mobile orchestras, each of five players, will tour tlio underground railways, the large public shelters, the feeding centres and the evacuation centres during night air-raids. A union official said: "As the nights lengthen the people will be spending many evening hours in the shelters and will need entertaining." The union's plan provides for the Government to pay a fixed wage to the musicians, many of whom are now unemployed.