The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-27
ENGLAND WILL
NOT FIGHT US
A Very Large Percentage Of Her
Food Supply Comes From the \
@ United States.
Even in Case of a War With a Euro
Jean Power the Result Would
Be Disastrous.
Public Meetings in England to Dis
cover Some Way Out of the
Dilemma.
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build

ing, Washington.
Washington, March 27.-The American
government has been advised by its rep
resentatives in Great Britain that the
liveliest interest is being taken in that
country in the question of food supply
in time of war. So dependent is England
upon the United States and other agri-
cultural countries for it's bread stuffs and
meat supplies, that in case of war be-
tween Great Britain and another great
power there would be danger of famine,
not in London only, but throughout the
whole of the United Kingdom. StatlS-
ticians point out the danger in a very
striking manner. During the five years
from 1852 to 1857 which included the
period of the Crimean war. England i'm
ported wheat and flour to the amount Of
Is per cent Of her total consumption In
the five years from 1896 to 1901, she i'm
ported IS per cent. In other Words the
acreage annually devoted to wheat raising
in England has been gradually decreasing
since the middle of the last century, and
is to-day only about one-half what it was
then. Or to state the proposition in an
other way, England, during the former
period, raised about three-fourths Of her
breadstuffs, while to-day she raises only
one fourth.
The Boer war increased the sense of in
seCurity growing out Of the situa ton just
described. Had Great Britain been in
volved In war with Germany during that
trouble, as at times there was great
danger. the result to her home population
would have been disastrous.
During the late winter it is reported to
the government in Washington that a
number of meetings have been held in
England for the purpose Of devising ways
and means for the better protection Of
the food supply in time of war, and the
fact that these meetings have been at
tended by the most prominent men of
the country. from cabinet ministers and
members of the houses of lords and COM
mons, down to representatives Of the lead
ing men in the several trades, indicates
that the feeling Of insecurity is wide
spread.
The public agitation was commenced by
prominent men in the grain trade, who
were naturally the first to see the danger.
Following their public expression of alarm,
a public meeting was held at Stafford
House. London. In February. on INVITA-
tlon Of the Duke of Sutherland, to pro-
mote an official inquiry into the question.
AS the result of this meeting conference
was held between the prime minister and
committee representing all the leading
interests Of the country
At the Stafford House meeting there
were present many of the high officers of
the British navy, who manifested the live
1fest interest in the question under dis
cussion and let it be generally known
that the situation was one requiring i'm
mediate attention.
later meeting was called in London by
the lord mayor, and was attended again
by the representa- tive men of the king
dom.
A Suggestion of BountIes.
The result of these several conferences
has been a thorough awakening of the
noII noYln tD fh1 C..1~ II
threaten them in case Of war with rival
naval power. Several suggestions have
been made looking to a relieving of the
situation. All Of them, obviously point
to an increase of the home acreage in
wheat and to a larger production of beef
cattle. The suggestion that the country
adopt a protective tariff, making these
staples dearer at home, and thus stimu-
lating the home grower and producer to
renewed activity, will hardly be adopted
because the British workingman will not
consent to anything which will increase
the price Of bread. Thus far the sugges-
tion of bounties to wheat growers and
cattle raisers seems to meet with great
est favor 1t is predicted that before the
matter is finally disposed Of there will be
an investigation by parliament and roy
al commission to cooperate with it.
No War With Us Possible
The people Of the United States may be
interested in Eknowing that England buys
more wheat and -four and beef from
them than from the people Of any other
country. 1t is very safe to say that as
long as that condition prevails there. will
never be war between Great Britain anC
the United States, if Great Britain car
prevent it. 1t is safe to say. also tha
this trade situation will cause the United
tSates to incline towards Great Britain
In any quarrel the latter country ma,
have with European power. In short
commerce has finally made fast friends o
these two great English speaking peoples
notwithstanding occasional outbreaks o
iingoism on this side the water, and o
jealousy of the United States on tn
other. An official investigation of IN
bread and meat question in England will
doubtless draw these bonds tighter. s.
far as Great Britain is concerned. Com
bined. these two great nations could over
come any single nation, any coalition o
nations, that might make war agains
them.
The people of the middle west will b
interested in the questions presented il
this article. for 1t Is from that sectio1
that American export wheat, flour an,
beef come In largest quantities. TIL
merchant millers Of Minneapolis for ex
ample. dispose Of a very large percentag
of their annual surplus in the E,nglis]
markets. where q, steady demand exist
for their leading brands. Similarly. tn
wheat growers Of the northwest and tn
beef packers of Chicago and Kansas Cit
send large percentage Of their expor
stuff to Liverpool and London. This heav
export keeps up the price of wheat. t1ou
and cattle at home, and hence it is tha
the question that England is now con
sidering with so much seriousness appeal
to us this side the water also.
w. w. Jermane.