Evening star., 1948-12-05
Prices
Feed Unrest
InGern1any
u. S. British Zones
Seem Headed for
Strike Wave
By Brock Curry

~ Ot&SN S~ssl
FRANKFURT, Germany.-Rising
prices are spawning unrest in West
ern Germany.
There are many signs that the
American and British zones are
headed for a wave of strikes and
possibly riots on the French pattern.
Some German officials are predict
ing public disorders unless the soar
ing price kite is hauled down.
And a member of the German
Trade, Union Federation's Executive
Committee forecasts "a number of
large-scale strikes" unless fising
prices are checked.
Some 100000 trade union men,
bers staged a one-day general strike
November IL in protest against rising
prices. 1t was the biggest demon
stration in Germany since the war.
Industry throughout the American
and British zones was paralyzed.
Demand Special Price Control
And in Stuttgart thousands rioted
late in October following a protest
meeting against spiraling prices.
For the first time since the war,
Germans battled Americans. Five
United States military policemen
and dozen German policemen were
injured before the crowd was dis
persed.
The Bizonal Council of Trade
Unions is demanding sweeping meas
ures to overcome what it calls an
economic emergency. The chairman
of the Hesse (state) Trade Union
Federation says present economic
policies ARE threatening the very
existence of the workers. and rising
prices If allowed to continue will
result in economic catastrophe.
Since the recent currency reform
measures, the of1icial said, price in
creases have siashed workers real
earnings about so per cent while
wages have gone up only Is per cent.
) Labor claims the lifting OF many
price and rationing controls has
caused steep price increases, and it
demanded a special price control
law directed against excessive prices,
the proclamation Of an economic
state of emergency, and extended
powers for the police to halt rising
prices.
American military government Of
ficials lay high prices to this simple
volume of goods In West
ern Germany cannot meet the de-
mand.
Black Market Grows
This is a postwar condition exist
ing In many countries, not only
Germany, they assert, and the per-
manent solution which these nations
are seeking and which Germany
must seek is greater production.
Meanwhile, reports from German
officials to the commerce branch of
the Anglo-American bipartite con-
troll Office say the black market is
gaining ground, due partly to the
bartering of food. In a survey of
the price situation, the commerce
branch says penalties for violations
of price ceilings and other rationing
regulations jumped SO per cent in
August over July.
How are Germans reacting to the
flight of the price kite?
The survey shows Hesse farmers,
for example, are planning direct
sales to town consumers to avoid
blame for high prices. They claim
wholesalers are responsible for the
high prices.
Wiesbaden officials, the survey re-
ports, note IAN inclination to a new
boarding of goods" This city also
reports renewed indications of in
dustrial barter, particularly at
plants of industry"
The district president in Limburg
says the "black market has reorgan-
lzed and established itself again.
Prices show q constant rising
tendency"
The survey says the chief con-
stable of Kassel told a conference of
price officials that the people there
are becoming more and more un-
easy because of the permanent price
increases. If prices continue to
rise, the constable said, consider
able troubles would jeopardize public
order and security"
distributed by the Associated Press)