Evening star., 1953-08-02
u. 5. Food Program
For East Germans
loco On for Weeks
BY the Assoeiated Press

BERLIN, Aug. 1.-The United
States is preparing to keep the
huge food relief program for
hungry East Germans running
for weeks, it was announced
tonight.
1--WE hope to continue the pro-
gram for a considerable time in
Berlin" said Alfred v. Boerner.
public affairs director of the
United States high commission.
"We are thinking in terms Of
weekS-at least"
President EiSenhower's gift of
SIS million worth of food to the
Bonn republic for distribution to
East Germans is sufficient to
feed IL million with the present
f1ve-mark ($1.19) parcels if the
Communists do not close the
city border.
Praises Germans.
United States High Commits
eioner James B. Conant praised
German welfare authorities for
"a magnificent job" in handing
out food to so many in so short
q time.
In a statement issued at Bonn,
he said there was enthusiasm
and appreciation for the Ameri-
can food gift in all corners of
Germany. East and West.
But what is more important"
he said, "is the fact that hun
dreds of thousands of undernour-
ished East Germans are actually
getting the food they badly need,
which fulf1lls the basic aim of
the Presidents humanitarian
offer"
Apparently Smarting under
criticism of some Berlin dis
patches printed in. the United
States that he has not been
claiming enough credit for the
United States in the relief prof.
ect, DR.. Conant will arrive here
from Bonn tomorrow for a one
day visit to the food lines and
consultation with West Berlin
officials.
H., Get Word From Radio.
Mr.. Boerner came here today
TO hold news conference at
which he denied the United
States High Commission had
given Americas relief role the
"silent treatment"
Zone of the major reasons so
many East Germans have al
ready applied for free food pack
ages is that RIAS. the State De-
partment radio station here, has
told the story of Presidents offer,
of American food coming in, and
of the distribution underway in
West Berlin" Mr.. Boerner said.
THE Germans I talked to to-
day in the relief lines all said
they'd heard the word from
HAS. fl
The distribution is a German
operation. But there would have
been no food program without
the Presidents offer. and the fact
American food is becoming avail
able allows 1t to continue.
"It is German stocks which
are now being distributed. But
American food arriving in West
German ports is replacing these
stocks and will also be used to
keep on with the distribution"
Us Labels Taken OFF.
'Dr. Conant's statement to-
night was issued on his own in
itiative," Mr.. Boerner said.
Mr.. Boerner said American
food would not be given to the
hungry with American labels
"becauSe we want to do every
thing we can to help them pro-
tect themselves from Communist
police reprisals"
He denied British authorities
in Germany had tried to block
the relief program. He said that
agreement was reached in both
the Allied High Commission and
the Allied command in Berlin to
sanction the distribution,
Various factors were dis
cussed when the program was
proposed" he said. But every
body's happy with the way it is
going now"
Some British editorial writer's
have attacked the program as
gesture to give bonuses to East
Germans for their June II revolt