Bitter British Comment On American Attitude To World Food Board Plan

Northern Advocate, 6 November 1946, Page 5

Bitter British Comment On American Attitude To World Food Board Plan

A note of deep concern is expressed in Britain at the American decision to abolish price controls on food, herhostility to the proposed World Food Board, and the announcement that her agricultural department will not buy food for; foreign governments in the future. ,

It is believed here that unless America reconsiders and changes her policy there will be world-wide repercussions, bringing in their train near-starvation in many countries, with definite political unsettlement.

Mr Bevin, who ever since the war has maintained that adequate world food supplies are one of the most important necessities towards rebuilding peace, is expected to raise the matter with President Truman as a matter of urgency. With the lifting of the American price controls, British and other'governments will have to bid against each other for supplies in the American market as well as against Amei ican buyers. It is anticipated that prices will inevitably be forced up. BRITAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES While Britain, with her long-term bulk purchase agreements with Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Argentine, has the majority of her supplies protected, she has other responsibilities. They are to the British zone in Germany, to India and to British colonies in the Far East. UNRRA supplies to the south-east-ern and eastern European countries come to an end in December. These and other eastern countries will also be obliged to join in what may become a scramble for food. Arrangements made with America by Britain for equalising rations in British and American zones in Germany are believed to have collapsed. In any case there is no equality of | rations in the two areas and supplies j for the British zone are well behind I schedule. I Britain has no reserves and there is I a possibility that rations in Germany ! may have to be reduced this winter. From India it is reported that there

(From A. MITCHELL) (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 5.

is a threat of a food problem far worse than last winter. Yet Japan is stated to be receiving four times as much cereals from America as India and eight times as much as .Italy. ' Greece at present has a low ration. Since the war she lias largely depended on UNRRA supplies and she will require substantial imports even to maintain her present position. SERIOUS MISGIVINGS

All these facts caused serious misgivings in Britain about the general situation.

In addition, America’s decision to reverse suddenly her policy towards the World Food Board has shocked the country and caused some bitter comments It is pointed out that barely a month ago America fully supported the aims of Sir John Boyd-Orr at Copenhagen for a World Food Board preparatory commission to work out machinery to establish fair prices for farmers and consumers and to prevent slumps and abolish famines.

Now she apparently has thrown Over such an idea of international planning. British Left Wing comment is particularly outspoken on America’s action.

It charges her with a “mad rush back to purely selfish capitalism,” and with apparently deciding to walk out of “functional” internationalism “just as she walked out of the League of Nations after the First World War.” PANDERING TO GAMBLERS By declaring Sir John Boyd-Orr’s plan unworkable and preferring commercial methods and direct negotiations between governments, it is also being said that America is pandering to food gamblers, big capitalists, farmers and wheat and produce operators. It is also alleged that America is making foodstuffs a political and trade bargaining counter, with the British people as the greatest sufferers. The outcome of Mr Bevin’s talk with President Truman and the meeting of

the preparatory commission for a World Food Board are being anxiously awaited. FATS DIFFICULT Fats were the most difficult of Britain's food problems, said the Food Minister (Mr John Strachey) at a Press conference today. He added that this was an outstanding case in which America’s decontrol policy was causing the greatest Uncertainty. The gap in the fats front resulted principally from the complete prohibition on the export of ground nuts from India, resumption of which was wholly problematical. Mr Strachey said he hoped expectations of increased fats shipments from the Southern Dominions would be fulfilled.

“We need every ton we can get in order to maintain the present ration,” he said.

Mr Strachey announced that the fats ration was reverting on December 8 from 2oz. to 3oz. of butter and from 4oz. to 3oz. of margarine, but he emphasised that this was the result of normal seasonal fluctuation and did not imply increased supplies or new sources. MEAT FOR CHRISTMAS Mr Strachey also announced that Britons in Christmas week would receive 2- worth of meat each instead of the normal 1/4 worth; also an extra allocation of 1 ilb. of sugar and a special allocation of Jib. of sweets for those under 18 and over 70. Mr Strachey said turkeys and other varieties of poultry would be more than 50 per cent more plentiful than last Christmas as the result of imports from Central Europe, Canada and Australia. There would be 20 per cent more Christmas puddings and sufficient canned fruit, of which 50 per cent would come from Australia. It would be allocated to enable everyone jn Britain to have 21b. of it. There would also be special allocations of oranges, bananas and apples, and possibly lemons. Liqueurs, wines and spirits would be more freely available than previously.