The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-03
England Awakening to Her vital
Problem.

Now that the Irish land question d b.
lieved to be approaching . permanent
settlement, it is evident that the even
more momentous problem Of Engiand's
food supply in time Of war will occupy
the foreground Of discussion In the British
press. An association. which numbers
among its members forty Admirals. has
been organized under the presidency OF
the Duke Of SUTHERLAND for the purpose
Of promoting an official inquiry into the
subject, and it 10 probable that the in
vestigation will be intrusted TO . Royal
Commission.
Most Of the facts set forth by the 1850
citation a. justifying the demand for
official information are beyond dispute.
It is certain that Great Britain would
enter upon q contest with any hrst-class
European Power under conditions much
less favorable than those which obtained
during the Crimesn War. Fifty years
ago the United Kingdom had a popula-
ton Of less than "a, 900, 900, and about nine
months supply Of grain. Now II has
nearly 4, 0OO, 900 inhabitants, grows les
grain than it did half century ago, and
il, at any moment, il had to depend for
food upon the stock OF grain at home,
it would only have three months supply
to draw from. Whether, indeed, the
stock would be 30 large has been ques-
toned: that Is one OF the matters upon
which a Royal Commission should be
able TO throw needed light.
A.1SAar vSx,lnS ia D.. tks &,n-
il that, even II the present principal pur-
veyors Of grain to Great Britain, namely,
the United States. Russia and Argentina,
should be willing TO furnish supplies. the
price Of grain would necessarily 20 up,
first. because many vessels belonging
10 the mercantile marine would be with
drawn for service In connection with the
navy, and, secondly. because the rates
OF marine insurance would be materially
raised, owing to the risks 81 capture
Now il IL disputable whether . large
fraction Of the British population could
afford to pay much moro for grain than
they do now. The association has brought
out the fart that more than half OF
the forty-two million inhsbitantA of the
united Kingdom depend upon the Wages
which they receive FROM labor. those
wages ranging from lees than N.;o TO
o.? 80 per week. Any considerable riss
IN the price Of bread would make Il i'm
possible for n least seven millions of this
populstion 10 feed themselves Nelthef
Is there any doubt that q wsr bstvssn
England and ons u the great powers
would throw many ~ tbs British manu-.
faoturins industries out u sssT. and this
disturbance ~ the Labor mArks, would bs
lik.ly Ca add sooies " Thousands ~ work
er. " the ranks u tbs unsssploysi
NLstbsf tbs brt.sh asvy, ~ ~ present
constituted, would 10 adequate fof tbs
Iso,so,ion II knsissd's siA-osSry,hs
s.-...ls. 10 ths efusasL lssuiSy shioL chs
Duks u sUrbksiAsD's sssoslstlon de-
sli.- "a o.. sissss.d ~ . koysl Gasai,lls.
sloh. ~ long. hossssf, ~ 0sssi bsisAln
IAN f.,ain tbs isissasisip ~ iiss t'nlisd
staia~. ~ 10 not st-oiussiy sssafsi that
,l.s hs,ilsh navy shosIid ~ stsAs " dsisDd
issi, ilsii s.~-s'ls from aesanssiss Do
.iso,sf. Htis iaiisi hsslss islSlG.S
. fI.'sdiy ssY,Ssiny, . issss s..u II
tbs bsiiish sss,.sstAls sssSls.s a,sia 10
Jasssd vsass sls AsseasA AAs Al.
ihoAxh u Lss t-.ss sssssd 40 sis G.ss.
tlisssi thss. n Ms 49, ~ Q as.s,fy,
economically situated - y 0ssss kp,sla.
Tod sasi,i ~ 10 vssisS b, Lss saSn,Ss
- asssif sissas q ss u . assi lssSssAzs-
i's that any tas,tsss psvs s.ssis
ssasrtsks a. s,slsas tLs SsiAspAs vt.loA
f@ s~ss5y afr yesw hes hs.ss s@t~.sls1
N ,sssrnsssca~i lee. 'hs psssssSss. saas
". uass ssssrsI shiys saskx ssyssi e..