ENORMOUS NAZI BOOTY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21867, 21 January 1941, Page 5

ENORMOUS NAZI BOOTY

Reason For French

Hunger

Futile Attempt To Blame Britain British Official Wireless (Received January 20, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 19. An analysis of the figures of French production and sources of supply of certain foodstuffs cut deeply into the German-inspired arguments that the food shortage in France is due to the British blockade. With pro-Brltish feeling in both occupied and unoccupied France growing rapidly, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Germans to persuade Frenchmen that privations due to German rapacity are really caused by their erstwhile ally. In June, 1940, when this aspect was not so important to Nazi propaganda as it has since become the "Deutsche Ailegmelne Zeitung”—possibly to allay any suspicion that the Nazi victory over France might Increase privation amongst German people should the War go on over the winter—pointed out that on a calory basis France normally was self-sufficient to the extent of 83 per cent, which could be increased to 150 per cent, if productive forces were more fully developed. An analysis of the figures for French food production and imports set out in the last available international year book of agricultural statistics, which is published in Rome, go far to support this opinion. These reveal that in 1938 France Imported less than one per cent, of her total potato supply, four per cent, of her wheat, live per cent of her barley, 12 per cent of her sugar and less than five per cent of her eggs. Both in 1937 and 1938 there was a small net export of milk and butter. In these circumstances it is difficult to see how the blame can be cast on the British for any shortage, neither is the case made stronger by figures published on January 8 by the Vichy information secretariat which stated that French imports of potatoes amounted in 1938 to 158,500 tons with the implication that the cutting of these Imports by the British blockade caused a shortage. This statement overlooked the fact that in 1938 France exported 90,000 tons of potatoes which figure should be used to offset the figure for imports. In any event these figures are an insignificant fraction of France’s total domestic output of potatoes. The same results are reached in a consideration of the Vichy statement that in 1938 France had to import 316,900 tons of sugar. Here French exports were 1,930,600, leaving a net shortage of only 12 per cent, in addition France was in the habit of carrying stocks equal to 25 per cent, of her total requirements. Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland are all large exporters of sugar and normal sources of French Imports of this commodity, so here again the British blockade has no influence on any French sugar shortage. The real reason for the privations existing on the countries occupied by Nazi arms has been given by the German propaganda machine Itself. On January 17 this year the Transocean News Service stated: “Feats hitherto never performed have been carried hut in connection with the defeat of Belgium, Holland and France such as the removal of enormous qua-‘ities of booty.” In view of the present propaganda policy on this subject it is interesting to recall the German reiterations, presumably designed for home consumption, of Europe’s ability to feed herself, the organ of the German Institute for Economic Research going so far as to say in December last “that the greatly increased production capacity of the Reich in the present war as well as the splendid organisation for distribution and intimate co-operation with other countries not only make Germany blockade proof but the rest of the Continent, too.” Evidence continues to reach London showing that the much advertised “collaboration” between France and Germany is a very one-sided affair. One example is the arrangements made for compensation to be paid to persons whose goods have been requisitioned by the German army. The rate fixed is generous but according to a recent decree by the Vichy finance minister it is France who pays. Whether the cost of this compensation is reckoned as part of the immense dally charges which France has to pay in respect of the German occupation or whether in exchange for paying out francs the Vichy Government obtains further credit in the recently produced clearing account is not known, but either way the French nation benefits little by the transaction. Those payments to individuals, moreover, have an inflationary effect, since the increase in money is not accompanied by an increase in goods. Another instance is the way in which private safe deposit boxes are being dealt with. Last July the Germans ordered all banks to compile a list of these and forbade their being opened except in the presence of German financial authority. Later the Germans announced that the boxes must be opened “voluntarily” before June 10, otherwise the a- thoriti*’ will open the safes themselves. Reliable reports show that when the safes are opened all the gold, foreign money and securities and t .cut stones are lodged with the bank in the name of the safeholder. But they are blocked by the occupying authorities so that the unfortunate owner has no possibility of realising or ’-<<i own assets which may be of considerable value to Germany in her attempts to Increase her supply of foreign exchange resources.