When the Allied armies reached Paris they discovered that the
fuel and transport situation was in fact appalling. Electric light was available only in a few Government offices ; the underground rail- way had ceased to function and there were practically no cars or buses ; such transport as existed was either what the French call " hippomobile " or else restricted to bicycles and hand-carts. Even more serious was the lack of household fuel which rendered it diffi- cult for housewives to cook even such rations as they were able to obtain. And few deprivations can be so personally galling as 'he prolonged and almost total absence of soap. It is true that the centre of Faris has not suffered the same extent of structural damage as has been dealt to London during four and a half years of bom- bardment. Yet in the industrial areas which surround the capital heavy damage has been done by Allied air-attack, and this has created a housing problem of great complexity. For the moment, owing to transport difficulties, only a few of those who were evacuated from Paris have returned. But already it is practically impossible to find accommodation in the city, and the hope that a large number of flats would become available once the Germans with- drew has proved an illusion. Already the demand is being made that the apartments of the collaborators should be taken from them in the hope of meeting a shortage which is already acute and which may become critical once the evacuees return. Already the pro- visional authorities are considering the erection of Portal houses in the industrial areas. In such circumstances it is not reasonable to suppose that the unity which, under the aegis of de Gaulle and the direction of the Resistance, was so admirably maintained during the occupation will be preserved unsullied and for ever. It would be impertinent for us to criticise, and unwise for us to exaggerate, the political divergences which are bound to develop. They will not prove either as damaging or as dangerous as they may seem.
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