DANGER IN EUROPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25344, 27 October 1945, Page 7

DANGER IN EUROPE

STARVATION and disease faced JOINT ALLIED ACTION URGED EXPULSION OF GERMAN REFUGEES Uy Telegraph—press Association—Copyright (Received October 26, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 26 The Prime Minister, Mr Attlee, received a deputation led by Sir William Beveridge urging that measures should be taken in yietf of the fact that millions of human beings, particularly in Germany, would be in grave danger of death from starvation a nd disease in the coming winter. The deputation urged the Government to act as follows: (1) To negotiate with the Russian, Polish and Czech Governments with a view to stopping immediately the expulsion of Germans from their homes in Eastern Europe and developing an agreed inter-Allied policy on the subject before the spring. (2) In concert with the French and Americans, to negotiate for an immediate common policy for the reception in the respective zones of such numbers of those already expelled as can be housed and fed in view of the existing commitments of the Western Powers to their own peoples and the liberated countries. (3) In concert with the French, Dutch and Belgian Governments, to increase the Ruhr coalmines production by all possible means, including the provision of adequate rations for miners' families. (4) To mobilise all available motor vehicles, whether British, American or German, to break the transport bottleneck. (5) To use civilian and military food reserves which can be released for the urgent needs of the various populations. Mr Attlee expressed his sympathy and gave an assurance that the Government was doing everything in its power to meet the situation. He emphasised that action on the part of the British alone could not materially improve the present conditions.