Evening star., 1946-06-21
Letters to The Star
Impressions of the Black Market
in Paris Reported

in Paris Reported
To the Editor Of The Star:
The following extracts from a letter,
dated April 20, received by me from
friend who has lived continuously in
Paris for the past IS years, may be Of
interest to you:
Food: Conditions much worse than
during the occupation Il mean, of
course, for the ma ajority of the nation)
The Germans took 80 per cent of pro-
duce, and we got small, but regular ra-
tions with the rest. Now we get less of
everything. Bread, two ounces q day
less: no meat for three weeks last
month; 2 pounds of potatoes since last
October; 2 liters OF ordinary wine per
month instead of 4; no butter this
month SO far; 100 per cent increase in
oflcial prices in three months and, of
course. the same In black market prices:
two eggs every three months; one-half
pound OF jam every three months: no
cheese this month so far. The Min
istry Of Food costs $500 oOo, 900 francs
and I see by this mornings paper that
the minister has obtained an additional
10000, 900 francs for his department. 1
forgot to mention coal The allowance
was cwt. for last winter. Now you
can buy any of the above commodities
in any quantity on the black market,
and you can eat and drink in any res
taurant in Paris until you burst. France
Is chock-full of food OF all sorts, includ-
ing wheat. which the farmers won't sell
but feed the pigs on. In fact, they won't
sell any produce except to the black
market gang. The Germans used to
requisition stuff from farmers, keep 80
per cent, and distribute the rest. The
black market prices which they fixed
were moderate. Everything is cor
nered here, including matches, which
are state monopoly. OF course, this
universal frameup could not be organ
lied without the completely of high ON
cials who are arrested at the rate of
one a week, but the game goes on.
Here are two recent instances, to show
you that there really is no food shortage
here. We had guests to lunch yester-
day. After buying our fortnightly ra-
ton OF meat at official prices 600 francs
per kilo). the butcher asked my wife
II she would like little supplement.
OF course, she said yes, and he imme-
diately cut off another large chunk at
800 francs per kilo. At the bakers we
got extra bread-hve rolls OF really
white bread at 8 francs each! This
game goes on at every shop in France
where they sell food, and there are as
many forged coupon-cards In circula-
ton as genuine ones, not to mention
the hundreds Of thousands which are
stolen from the municipal ofYices every
month. and which have to be replaced.
AS to the 5000 food parcels sent from
the United States weekly, only 10 per
cent arrive at destination, according to
the papers; the remaining 90 per cent
go to the black market gangsters.
Clothing: The ofI,cial price is $500
francs for two-piece suit, so per cent
wool. When, by bribery and diplomacy,
you have managed to bet a bon (cou-
pom. you 60 to tailor, he looks at
you with the expression that Edens
Bond street tailor would wear II you
asked him to make you 4 guinea pair
Of plus-fours. He will say that he has
no cloth at present. but might be able
to get some. The result Is that the suit
costs 10000 francs. At the ready-made
shops they tell you they have nothing
your size, and that's the end Of it, un-
less you hand over . pound Of butter,
four packets of English or American
cigarettes, or two pounds Of sugar. For
tunately, bought . complete military
outfit quite new from an ofdcer Of
yours going home, 30 am supplied until
pass over. The cloth and workman
ship are magnificent. I got the lot for
5000 francs. Every other Frenchman
is wearing some Of your equipment
bought on the black market"
H. BENNINGTON.