Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-06
HOW j. S. CAN MEET
BRITISH FOOD CRISIS
Kennedy Jones, Food Control.
Ter, Says Solution Depends
on This Nation.
TELLS OF GRAVE SITUATION

Especial CabIexram to The Sunday
Star and New York TimesD
LONDON, May 5.-What America can
do for Britain in the way of meeting
the coming food crisis is clearly ex-
planned by Kennedy Jones. M. P. Mr..
Jones occupies the post in the food
controllers department known as di-
rector general of food economy. Be
fore that he had run" a special de-
partment connected with the last war
loan. and a special tribute to the sue
cess of his work was paid by the
chancellor Of the exchequer.
Since TX. j." as the member of par
lament is familiarly known through
out Fleet street. where he was once
shining light, Joined the food control
department the wheels of that machine
have worked more smoothly than be-
fore. though just at the moment there
appears to be some friction between
Lord Devonport and Capt. Bathurst.
parliamentary representative of the
food department. which resulted in the
latter rendering his resignation. upon
which tender no action viii be taken
till after Lloyd Georges return from
abroad.
Solution Depends on U. S.
Asked about the confusion that had
heen created in the public mind by
various statements relative to the food
situation, Kennedy Jones said:
at Is vital that what may appear
to be conflicting statements from vari-
Gus departments of the government
should not be allowed to cloud the
main issue in the food crisis. with
which the United Kingdom is now
faced. and l may say at once that upon
the whole hearted cooperation OF the
United States government and people,
and especially of their women, depends
a successful solution of the problem.
However wise or unwise may be the
measures which we adopt here, or
however widespread the self-sacrifice
made by our own people in the reduc-
ton of their food consumption, we
cannot carry on to a successful con-
United States provides shipping in un-
paralleled quantities and unless the
exports of grain from America are
largely increased.
The exact situation here is that our
own cereal crops will be late and prob
ably below those of last year. Be
tween now and the time when we can
turn our own harvest into breadstuns
statistics prove that there may be a
severe scarcity of bread. We are en-
deayoring to meet this by urging our
people to reduce their consumption by
25 per cent or more. 1t is possible
that if the whole nation responds to
our effort 1T will not be necessary to
issue bread tickets. but we cannot
leave anything to chance.
organizing Machinery.
Therefore, we are organizing the
intricate machinery which is required
for governmental control and distri-
button of the bare necessities of every
day life. Personally. 1 hope universal
self-sacrif1ce of our own people on a
voluntary basis will make it unneces-
sary for us to put compulsory ration
ing machinery into effect before the
harvest. There are many people in
REngland fully entitled to their own
opinion who differ from me, and from
Whose statements it might be inferred
that we are fiddling while starvation
is at our door. Bread shortage will
certainly be in sight If the submarine
menace increases, but We are not i'd
ding.
THE energies of the ablest men in
the country are now being devoted to
the formation of a compulsory ration
ing department, and not a day is being
lost in creating an establishment fully
equal to the work. Your own eminent
food controller. Mr.. Hoover, told me
that in his opinion more than two
months were required to set up the
necessary machinery.
Government Not to Hesitate.
There will be no hesitation what
ever on the part Of the government to
use compulsory machinery as soon as
it is complete. either before our own
harvest, If it is necessary. or later on
in the year. The experience of all
those who. like Mr.. Hoover, have had
practical experience of putting a ma