New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-06
Every Subject of Countries
Fighting Germany Expect
ed to Do His Part
Minister Lauds Hoover
Briton Says America Is Act.
ing Gin Accordance With
Ideas Agreed On"
fSpArial Crrrnspondencel

LONDON, July ZO'-Not aIoHe INC
farmer three miles south of Tecumsen,
Kan, but also the clerk living IN
furthest Brooklyn and the storekeeper
residing in Calcis, Ala, have a vital in
fuence on the price of loaf Of bread
and a pound of meat in the shops OF
Whitechapel and Westminster. That
is the logical deduction from the state
ments just made by the head of the
British Food Ministry, Lord Rhondda.
With reference to his previous state
ment on the necessity for controlling
prices Lord Rhondda was asked whether
this was to be done through the exist
ing trade organizations or by spe-
cially created bureaucratic machine.
1--WE are prepared to deal with al
most any shortage that may arise"
said Lord Rhondda, "and if it were
necessary we could put into operation
almost Immediately a special organiza-
ton such as that TO which you appear
TO refer. But under present conditions
we make the fullest use of existing
trade channels. When we control
production and supply, we control
nearly everything. Therefore, though
enormous powers of direct interference
have been given US we will use them as
seldom as possible"
Question of Raw Materials
A reference was made to the ten
dency among big American manufact-
urers to secure control of the produc
tion and handling Of all the raw mate
rails entering into their products, and
the minister was asked whether the
case was similar.
"The principle is the same" he an
swered. "But for the control of a
great part of our food supplies we
must rely on the cooperation of our
Allies"
as there any danger Of weakness
in this plan? How do you know that
Canada and America will cooperate suf-
fciently to give you the power neces-
sary for your control of prices in Eng.
land and other Allied countries?" he
was asked.
"As for prices in the other Allied
Countries Lord Rhondda pointed out,
they are working OH plans similar TO
ours. Your question about the control
of supplies in America is answered by
the fact that the government there
has all necessary power and is in close
cooperation with US"
/ as Mr.. Hoover doing exactly what
| you think ought to be done TO make
your control of supplies and prices a
| success %.
Mr.. Hoover is acting in accordance
with ideas on which we are agreed"
was Lord Rhondda's broad reply.
do you think Mr.. Hoover a capable
food controller ?" was the next question.
81 do. The President could not have
/ made better choice"
But suppose that a lack of SYM
! pathy on the part of many people in
America weakened Mr.. HOover's posi-
ton. If the definite steps on which you
are evidently relying could not be made
your plan of controlling prices by con-
trolling the primary sources of supply
would fail. What would you do then ?"
"You might as we'll ask me what
would do If the millions in Great Brit
ain, who adopted the voluntary ration
were to change their minds and decide
! to eat double the standard amounts"
Lord Rhondda answered,
! But the fact of the matter obviously
| is, according to Lord Rhondda's idea
that if American farmers tried in any
way TO evade the American crop sug-
gesSions and regulations, or if Ameri-
| can consumers failed to join. enthu-
siastically in the American part of the
campaign, forty-fve million British
| people might be faced by the gravest
national dangers.
And that's why Homer Forbes, of
! Tecumseh; Charles Hill, of Brooklyn
! EAST, and Tom Stage, of Calcis have
vital influence on the price of bread
! in Commercial Road and the price of
meat near Victoria.
British Policy Consistent
The charge that the British Ministry
| of Food, responsible for the control Of
| the supplies that Americas home saw
ing and agricultural activity may pro-
vide, operates without any consistent
or fundamental policy is definitely un-
true. Such a policy was clearly stated
by Lord Rhondda, head of the minis
try, in special interview to-day.
IL is true that series of impending
emergencies did absorb the ministry's
attention for some months, and 1t was
this that suggested that the food de-
partment was battling with minor prob
lem after minor problem, and never
settling on a fundamental principle
from which to work.
| This principle, according to the min
istry, does exist 1t refers 10 the re-
lation between the wage standard and
| the food price standard.
az food prices in relation 10 wages
are higher than normal" said Lord
Rhondda, flood consumption is auto
matically checked. The difficulties Of
securing and distributing food in war
conditions make this checking process
logical and justfiable.
"But if food prices are too high the
factors moral. economic and social
on which the prosecution Of the war de-
ponds become sources of danger 10 the
nation. Discouragement, loss of work
ing power and enmity toward the state
may all result.
Prices Just High Enough
"You may say, then, that the funda-
Nul -, L ha,h Il h. IL,