§ 68. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what portion of calories out of the prevailing authorised rations in Hamburg have been available in recent weeks; and if he will make a further statement in respect of the recent demonstrations and strike against inadequate food supplies.
Mr. McNeilIn the last four weeks normal consumers in Hamburg, entitled to a ration scale of 1550 calories a day, received 1400, 1430, 950 and 800 calories a day, respectively. For the current week the ration is expected to rise again. On 8th May 2,000 workers at Howaldt Shipyard staged a sit-down strike as a protest against the food shortage. They returned to work on 9th 159W May but joined the demonstration which had been called by the trade union councils at 12 noon that day. On 9th May public transport was stopped for a short time and workers marched from all parts of the city to the trade union headquarters, where a crowd of 100,000 people gathered. The meeting was orderly and well conducted and dispersed quietly after being told to report back to work.