European Food Needs

Northern Advocate, 18 October 1947, Page 7

European Food Needs

(Rec. 1.10 p.m.) PARIS. Oct. 17. The second volume of the report from the Marshall Plan nations deals mainly with the food position in the 16 nations which participated in the Paris conference.

The report stresses that the countries arc not able to count on sufficient imported cereals to ensure the achievement of the industrial programmes outlined in the first volume.

The report appeals for the maximum imports of cereals without which improvement in conditions hoped for under the Marshall Plan must be foregone for many years.

Participating countries promise that all possible efforts will be made by their own agriculture, but the report adds that no matter how great these efforts might be they cannot be sufficient to bridge the gap.

The report estimates that participating countries in the year 1947-48 will require £1,450,000,000 worth of imports of food and agriculture equipment. BULK FROM AMERICA

This requirement is expected to rise to £1,750,000,000 in 1950-51. More than four-fifths of the requirements are for goods from the United States and other American countries, for which dollars are necessary.

The report gives other estimated requirements as follows: Coal, £92,250,000 in 1948, £13,500,000 in 1951; mining machinery. £20,000,000 (£10,000,000); electrical equipment. £37,500,000 (£12,500,000); petroleum products, £144,250,000 (£155.000,000); oil. materials and equipment, £41,250,000 (£33,000,000).

CRISIS MORE ACUTE

The medical division os' the International Red Cross, in a report dealing with civilian health conditions among 16 war-affected European countries, says the physical and moral stamina of the most sorely tried populations is giving way. They could not be allowed to undergo another year of undernourishment. The food crisis was more acute than at the same time in 1946 and the people were able to offer only slight resistance to disease. Food supplies had improved in some Western European countries but under-nourishment for years had left its mark. Syphilis was increasing everywhere and would have disastrous effects on future generations. BREAD FOR FRANCE

M. Ramadier said there were favourable prospects for the negotiations now being conducted with Australia, Argentina and Russia for the purchase of bread grains. Important grain purchases in the United States in the first six months of 1948 were now certain. Because of the prospects the Government would raise the bread ration by about 2oz. daily Cor about 900,000 workers in heavy industries such as mining. The rest of the population was assured of Boz .daily until the end of the year.