My telegram No. 254 of 29th September, † CCCRR Muehlenberg camp.

Conditions at Muehlenberg have not improved much since Bird of Immigration Branch made his report which PW ²² and DP Division officials in the zone admit gave a fair picture of the situation. A few additional buildings have been rendered barely habitable by the installation of doors and windows. The camp will now accommodate 1000 CCCRR Volksdeutsche which is the figure guaranteed by Kenchington and reported in my telegram No. 148 of 10th June. † This seems to be the upper limit, while CCCRR camp population increases during the week before each sailing of the Beaverbrae from 800 to approximately 1300 persons, Chief of PW and DP Division asserts that no more space can be made available. Quite apart from accommodation, facilities such as washrooms are woefully inadequate.

Before he first moved in, Erdmann was apparently told by PW and DP officials that Muehlenberg was a poor camp.

Unfortunately, alternative accommodation was scarce, and in order to get on with the job he took what was readily available, particularly as it was located near a good railway centre such as Hannover. Since then, of course, CCCRR scheme has expanded rapidly. Molson ²³ is of opinion that even if PW and DP Division could spend more out of their meagre deutsche mark budget and even if materials could be obtained more easily, it would require a lot of work and some time substantially to improve conditions at Muehlenberg. At that they might well not be up to standard.

In the coirrse of the next few weeks PW and DP Division are transferring to Manpower Division their commitments in respect of displaced persons outside the mandate of IRO. The recruitment of displaced persons for the United Kingdom Westward Ho scheme is now small, and PW and DP Division are, therefore, handing over to Manpower Division certain former German army barracks in Munster which were used for this purpose. The Munster barracks were examined a few days ago by PW and DP and Health officials who reported them to be in a very good condition. The capacity of the several buildings is 4700. According to calculations made by officials of PW and DP and Manpower Divisions in Molson's presence, they should be able to house all those for whom Manpower Division will need accommodation, including the CCCRR.

Having regard to conditions at Muehlenberg, it would seem best for CCCRR to take advantage of this opportunity. It would be necessary first to secirre approval of appropriate British authorities, and Molson is endeavouring to ascertain how long this would take. He was informed by Manpower officials that it might be difficult to arrange for the move, if it were approved, after the next sailing of the Beaver-brae schedirled for 19th October. It might have to be deferred until immediately after the November sailing. This might not be inconvenient for CCCRR. I understand they are now working principally on the November rather than the October sailing, that is to say, one sailing in advance.

Meinsen of CCCRR, who is now in charge at Muehlenberg, advised Molson that he is not anxious to move because the camp is near a railway centre and because he now has suitably trained locally employed German personnel whom he would otherwise lose. In view of the fact that policy considerations are involved, PW and DP officials were not anxious to discuss the possibility of Munster in detail while he was there. However, Munster is well served by railway transportation and Molson was given to understand that if CCCRR were moved, efforts would be made to transfer, at the saine time, at least some of the German personnel whom Meinsen wishes to retain. His objections, it seems, might, therefore be met.

Briefly, there appears to be two possibilities if CCCRR are to be afforded more adequate facilities without charge. They can remain in Muehlenberg, which is not likely to be really satisfactory for them for yet a few months, if then. Alternatively, we can press the appropriate British authorities to accommodate them at Munster, the move to be completed by the beginning of December at the latest. The second plan appears definitely to be the better and the prospects are that it could be arranged, provided always that the local CCCRR representatives wish to take it up.

²²Prisoner of War.

²³ P.T. Molson, section consulaire, mission militaire à Berlin. P.T. Molson, Consular Section, Military Mission in Berlin.