Mexico Missouri message., 1917-08-30
Commodity.


United States. on which they were ac-
customed to rely before the war. The
Russian supply cannot be got out
Bulgarian and Roumanian supplies are
in the hands of the central empires.
The voyage from Australia and India
is three times as long and therefore
requires three times as many tons OF
shipping as is required from North At
lantic ports. 1t is also twice as dan
gerous because of the longer exposure
to submarine attack. There has been
q large failure in the South American
countries and the new harvest from
that quarter will not be available In
Europe until next spring. AS already
| said, all the allied countries are and
have been for some time vigorously ad-
| ministering and economizing their
food. In Belgium, the relief commits
sion has been compelled to reduce the
consumption of cereals by nearly on
per cent; this brings the food supply
so low that the population are In
capable of labor.
From the above tables 1t Will be
seen that on normal bases of consump-
ton the total allied wheat import re-
uuirements are 577,000,000 bushels
against a North American surplus OF
| O9OOO.OOO bushels-and from our
United States supplies we must re-
| serve q certain amount for neutrals
| from which we receive vital supplies
and also an amount to protect our
stocks better next year than this last
There is therefore on normal con-
sumption a deficit of over 4OO,OOO,OOo
bushels. In the other cereals used in
Europe mostly for animal feed, the
import necessities of the allies on nor
NAL consumption basis are about 674,'
100000 against North American sur
plus of 950O00,000. But again a re-
serve for neutrals and increased "car'
nv over" will absorb all the margin
In any event it means we must multi
ply our exports of these cereals u
times. However, upon the basis of oul
present crop prospects we should be
able to supply their requirements IL
cereals other than wheat.
The situation in wheat is one Of
great difficulty and concern, and mus
be met by an elimination of waste anC
reduction of consumption on the par
of the allied peoples and ourselves, II
one word, by an effective administra
ton of the available supply.
The allies are unable to use othe
|
use them only as added to wheat fiou
to make the war bread now in uni
versal use in European countries. Eek
cept in Italy, whose people normal.
consume much corn, our allies hav'
few corn mills and cornmeal Is not
durable commodity and therefore can
not be shipped in great quantities.
Moreover, for generations they hav
bought bread from the bakeries; the,
have no equipment nor do they know
how to bake In the household. Ever
American knows that 1t is infeasibl
to distribute corn bread from bakeries
and it is therefore necessary for u
to furnish our allies with sufficien
wheat to enable them to have whea
basis for the loaf. However, they ca
use and must use other cereals 70
mixture in their war bread, and b
this substitution and by savings o
. their part great deal can be accom-
: plished. On the other hand, defici
of 400,000,000 bushels can be at leas
! partially overcome If we can increas
; our exports from 9S,000,000 to 900
= 100000 or nearly triple. This can b
accomplished If we will substitute on
) pound of other cereals for one poun
: of wheat flour weekly per person; tha
is, If we reduce our consumption
wheat flour from five pounds per wee
to four pounds per week per person
4 It will he no privation to us and wi
: reduce the privatiOn of our allies.
4 Food Animals.
Owing to the ascending standard {
E living, the world was already straine
I to supply enough animal products
l meet the demand before the war b.
: Can. The war has injected into an q
!. ready difficult situation number {
t vicious conditions which are jeOpardi
= ing the ultimate animal products SUI
} ply of the world. The production {
I fodder in Europe has been diminishe
5 by the diversion of productive labor
; war, and Its import has been curtaile
by shortage in shipping and by tt
' isolation of markets by belligereI
lines. From these causes not only al
: the actual numbers of animals d