U.S. GRAIN FOR EUROPE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25305, 3 October 1947, Page 7

U.S. GRAIN FOR EUROPE

MR TRUMAN APPEALS TO NATION “ 100,000,000 BUSHELS MUST BE SAVED” WASHINGTON, October 1. “If we turn our backs upon hungry people they will turn from hunger to despair and from despair to chaos in areas where stability is essential to the peace and economic security of the world,” said Mr Truman, addressing the first meeting of the newlyappointed Citizens’ Food Committee at the White House to-day. Mr Truman emphasised that the amount of grain which the United States could export was limited. Estimates indicated that a maximum of 470,000,000 bushels would be available for export under present conditions, but there was strong evidence that America could export at least 100,000,000 bushels more than that. “If we are to do our share in meeting the absolute minimum needs of the distressed people in Europe.” the President added, “this 100,000,000 bushels must be saved by the American people. “This is our minimum goal. We know that only part of the saving can come from serving fewer slices of bread. The greater part must come from what we feed our livestock. We must also save from what we waste and from what we use in a score of ways for human food.” There would be more than enough food in the United States to go round provided it was fairly distributed, said Mr Truman. Excessive prices caused unfair distribution, and already increasing prices were inflicting hardship on millions of Americans on low or moderate incomes. “We must get prices down and help ’hungry people in other countries at the same time,” he added. Waste of Food It had been estimated that Americans wasted about 10 per cent, of all food bought, the President said. The problem must be dealt with quickly and decisively. ’ “The saving asked of each individual is actually very small,” he added. “One bushel of grain saved by every American in the next few months will do the job.” Writing to the chairmen of key Congressional committees to-day requesting them to summon their committees as soon as possible to consider emergency aid for Europe. Mr Truman said: “Congress will soon be called Upon to consider the part which the United States should play.” . Mr Truman’s letter, after describing the effect of bad harvests, rising costs, and dollar shortages in Europe, added: “Political groups that hope to profit by unrest and distress are now attempting to capitalise on the grave fears of the French and Italian people that they will not have enough food and fuel to survive the coming winter.”

Both the “New York Times” and the “New York Herald Tribune” see a need for the development of a concrete plan if Mr Truman’s plea for voluntary saving is to succeed. The “New York Herald Tribune” says: “Exhortations, however poignantly and piously phrased; will not knock down prices or conserve 100,000,000 bushels of grain. To put force into the exhortations requires concrete measures and concrete symbols, which spell the sacrifice required of the American people.” Mr Truman will broadcast to the nation on the world food crisis on Sunday. His address will be part of a halfhour programme to launch a voluntary food conservation drive directed by the President’s special food committee.