French Assured Of Better Food Rations

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1945, Page 7

French Assured Of Better Food Rations

LONDON, August 23

Many hundreds of thousands of French people who were expected to suffer acutely from lack of food in the winter months are now assured of a reasonable amount of nourishment. The Minister for Food (M. Pineau), after visiting Britain and America, announced that under the AngloFrench agreement signed in Washington France would buy a minimum of 10 per cent, of the meat obtained under British-Argentine contract. Britain also agreed to advance France 50,000 tons of sugar, which France would return from the French West Indies. France was also to import from the United States and Canada 350.000 tons of (vheat a month, of which 200,000 tons were going to French North Africa.

M. Pineau also said that the Combined Food Board in Washington had allocated France 200,000 tons of fats for the second half of this year. France was also importing, principally from the United States, 60,000 tons of meat, both tinned and carcases, by the end of the year, and 1.000,000 tons of agricultural machinery, chemical manure and insecticides a month.

M. Fineau promised the people that they would receive an average of 2500 food calories a day by October. France would receive as much imports as she could handle with her present port facilities. The Paris- radio says France has asked the United States for a credit of £60,000,000. This is to enable her to buy agricultural products hitherto supplied under lend-lease. Blow For de Gaulle The fact that General de Gaulle's arrival in Washington coincided with President Truman's announcement of the cessation of Lnd-lease is not considered the happiest augury, since it is generally considered the most concrete object of the visit is to ensure the rapid transit to France of coal, raw materials and other reconstruction equipment, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” ' If the influx of supplies should slow down in the next two months, adding to the long series of disappointments the French have experienced since the liberation, General de Gaulle’s prestige would suffer a serious blow on the eve of the first, national election since the liberation. It. is now generally accepted that only outside aid, principally coal, can ensure the social and political stability of France in the coining winter.

Food For Vienna When the four Allied commanders meet in Vienna today the outstanding problem under discussion will be that of supplying Vienna with food. It is estimated that. 3000 tons of food will bo needed every month in each of the *our zones of the city.