18,000,000 STARVING

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 5

18,000,000 STARVING

CONDITIONS ON CONTINENT DENIAL BY GERMANY FAIR DISTRIBUTION URGED (Official wireless) (Received August 13, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 12 Although there is no news of the cceipt by the British Government of i request which had been fully re:orted in British newspapers from the European Food Distributing Commission to raise the blockade in order to supply food to the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Norway, where, according to New York reports, the commission says “18,000,000 persons are facing starvation,” it is expected that such a request will be forthcoming and will be given a considered reply. Meanwhile it is pointed out in well-informed quarters that the German Government is continually reiterating: (1) That Germany has instituted an efficient blockade against Britain. (2) That the British blockade against Germany is ineffective. (3) That the food situation in Germany is excellent. Indeed, in relation to the last point, ■ Dr. Funk, in the latest of many official pronouncements on this subject, is reported to have said at the opening of the Kosinberg Fair: “A food scarcity in Germany is now impossible.” In view of these allegations, insisted upon as facts by the Nazi leaders, informed quarters in London express the opinion that the problem would seem really to be one of a fair distribution of exisitng and future supplies. In these circumstances it is diffl- , cult to see what help could be given by raising the blockade, which the German Government declares to be virtually inoperative.