WHEAT AND RICE SHORTAGES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 5

WHEAT AND RICE SHORTAGES

“In the first six months of 1946 the wheat and flour which importing countries need to import from overseas will amount to more than 17,000,000 tons, and the supply which can be expected from all countries against this requirement will be about 12,000,000 tons, leaving a deficit of 5,000.000 tons.”

Mr Bevin at this point said he wanted to make it clear that he was only referring to supplies which could be moved across the seas. These did not include supplies which neighbouring countries might obtain overland. There would be a good deal of exchange overland between one country and another, but when that was done there was still a terrific deficit in total supplies. He added that in the 17,000,000 tons mentioned, UNRRA’s requirements were included for countries supplied by UNRRA. Therefore the 12,000,000 tons to be supplied included the whole amount which the exporting countries of both hemispheres expected to be able to ship. "We shall have later and more precise figures soon,” said Mr Bevin, "but the fact remains that the whole continent of India has come into the picture—the monsoon has failed.” Mr Bevin reminded the United Nations of the failure of the South African crops. He said the deficiency might be even greater than the 5,000,000 tons already mentioned. The rice position was also apparently worse than was originally calculated. The deficiency of rice could not be less than 2,000,000 tons. “The rice position,” he said, “may mean that within the next few months 1,000,000,000 of the world’s population will face famine. "It is a really terrific fight, which I call on the whole of the United Nations 'irrespective of their own difficulties and of political considerations, to make it their resolute determination to avoid. I believe that governments throughout the world, recognising

their dependence, will collectively face the situation and avoid a catastrophe.” Mr Bevin asked the Assembly to remember that the figure of 1500 calories daily for the diet of Europeans was only an average. Many millions were below the average. “It is impossible to know the number who are hungry,” he said. “In