Food Problem Looms in Ruhr

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1948, Page 5

Food Problem Looms in Ruhr

Reeeived Mondav, 7 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 19. "The Ruhr is a powder barret" is the eommonest general expression one Wars of this area, says The Times' Kssen correspondent. One reeeives the nnvarying impression of a eommunitv in ilirest need. Housewives, aged per-.-o ji s and light worlters for weeks, sometinie.s months, rece.ved only bread and eereulsH'or their fations. There is no lanl, butter, niargarine, nieat or fish for theai. Indeed, for the first timo liutter is linobtainable in Essen on the black, hr('.v or white market. The niiner contiiiues to receive extra ra t ions but at Ihe exjiense of the nornial consumer. Blanie tor the Ruhr's present pl'ight is put firstly on ihe British occupation aut horities and only secondly on Gormaii otficials in charge of the distribution of food. The primarv responsibiJity ot the Xational Mocialists is forgottcn. ()n the other hand Xazi (atchwords and watchwords are being iiicreasinfflv encnuntered. Those (fennans who try to detend Britain's elforts to send supplies, are openlv -tibused on trains, tianis and queiies. The correspondent added tliat the conlcrcnce at Dusseldorf last week ma.v mark the turnin«- jioint provided the Lennan aut horities, backed by the Allics' aid, promptly and boldly discliarqe the conference's decisions.