LORD HATHERTONasked His Majesty's Government why coal in Germany was the subject of quadripartite agreement whilst food was not.
LORD PAKENHAMIn conformity with the principles laid down at Potsdam both coal and food produced in Germany should have been pooled and used to meet the 997WA needs of the whole of Germany. It became clear at an early date that no food could be expected from Eastern Germany. As regards coal, the British authorities sought for a long time to preserve the principle of economic unity by quadripartite allocation but were compelled to withdraw in September of this year, when the Russians in Berlin finally made it clear that they would only pool such part of the Russian zone coal production as in the judgment of the Russian Zone Commander was surplus to the requirements of his zone.