The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-24
GREAT BRITAIN DISTURBED.

Only Three Weeks supply To
Bread-StuGs Usually carried
LONDON, April 6.-Attention was
called in the House of Commons today
by Mr.. Henry Seton-Karr, Conserva-
tive member for ST. Helena, to the
wholly inadequate production of food
supplies in the United Kingdom in re-
lation TO the large and increasing pop
ulation. Mr.. Seton-Karr then moved
that independence of the United King
dom upon foreign imports for the nee
essities of life and the sequences which
might rise therefrom in the event OF
war demanded the serious attention
of the Government. Continuing, Mr..
Seton-Karr expressed the belief that
the reserve of breadstuffs never ex-
ceeds three weeks supply and fire.
quently sank below a weeks supply.
France, he pointed out was self-sup-
porting, and Russia and the United
States were not only self-supporting,
but were. able to make large exports.
The dreibund, he continued, was prac-
tically self-supporting, and that Great
Britain alone lived from hand to
mouth, and drew her principal sup
plies of wheat from Russia and the
United States, which might at some
time be hostile TO Great Britain.
He further remarked that should the
harvest in America fail and Russia re-
fuse to supply Britain, the latter's po-
sition would be most serious. The
speaker called attentions to the dam
age done to the commerce OF the Unit
ed States by the Alabama, and remark
ed that many such vessels might be
set to prey upon British commerce in
=; &c II
which would raise the price to con-
sumers, but he hoped the Government
would consider the subject seriously,
and proposed that State granaries be
erected for keeping supplies. Sir Chas.
Dixie, member for the Forest Of Dean
Division of Worcestershire. coDtended
that Russian exports of wheat to Great
Britain were decreasing in average
yearly, and he asserted that half of
Great Britain's food came from the
United States. Continuing he said:
"If the United States, Canada and Aus
tralia can feed usr-He are Independent
of Russia, as the interests and advan
tages of those countries would be so
strong that we could rely upon them
to supply u.s. Sir Charles Dixie, con-
tinuing, said he thought the other
States were not likely to take any
steps in regard to the contraband Of
war which would be likely to bring the
United States down upon them.
After Mr.. James Lowther, Conser-
vative member for the Island of Tba-
net, had advocated a duty on foreign
grain, the Government leader, Mr.. A
J. Balfour, said that the popularity of
the motion was that it had given y
suitable text both to protectionists and
free traders. The adoption of the pro-
posal to establish State granaries, he
claimed. would mean turning the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer into the gigan-
tic corn dealer AS to commercial zoll-
Mr.. Balfour continued, he look
ed with considerable longing for closer
union with the British colonies, both
in regard TO commercial and military
affairs, but he sincerely thought a
was necessary, and he did
not think there was danger of for
9ign countries refusing to supply Great
Britain with food. The United States,
he insisted, would not allow food TO be
declared contraband of war, as it would
affect her interests, apart from her
inherent sympathy for Great Britain,
and combined with the United States
Great Britain could stand against any
combination of the powers
The real thing upon which Great Brit
ain was dependent, Mr.. Balfour assert
ed, was her navy, for which the Gov
srnment accepted the responsibility.