DISQUIETING POSITION

Chronicle (Levin), 18 January 1947, Page 5

DISQUIETING POSITION

Press Assn.-

Britain's Popularity Low PR0BLEMS IN GERMAN Z0NE

By Telegraph

Copvriaht

Eeeeived Friday, 10.40 p.m. LOXDOX, Jan. 17. The Times' special coiTespondent Avho has beeli accompanying Mr. Hynd 011 his visit to the Britisli zone 111 Oermany says, .in a message from Hanover, that Britisli popularity in Germany has probably touehed its nadir. The decline i'rom its standiug at the.time of the capitulation and ir. the months immediately afterwards is as marked as it is dis-quie-ting. The reasons are vari011s. The low rations are a predomihant factor and the prpmise of an inerease to 1800 calories.in (he second half of this year has Mone little to eheer thc spiritles.s; or appo.ase the rcsentful. Another less geueral but at the same time important factor is the reijuisitiouing of Oerman homes and furnituro. The curve of Britisli popularity sank steepl.y when the l'etjuisitioning started and has not yet risen. This was one of the matters Mt Hynd discussed during his visit and he holds strongly that this ea use of illwill shouid be removed •is far and as quickly as possihle Eleven thousand people were arrested in Hamlrarg last week for stealing coal, says the Evening Standard's Hamburg correspondent. This indicates the aeuteness of Ihe fuel shortage in Ilandmrg w:here. 26 froze to death during the recent eold spell. People nightly prowl the streets seeking fuel. All Ihe seats in the parks and publie plaees disappeared long ago. Britisli and («erman doetors agree that the cold s])ell showed that women stand the cold and lumger much hetter than meii. A ({erinan doctor said: "Wotnan is the stronger sex.'*