Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-23

VKTASHINGTON, D. c., July 6.-The food situ-
w alton in France contains many disturbins
W factors. Long Before the entry of the
United States into the this country exported
vast quantities of food to France, and since con-
greSs declared have furnished the French
with even greater quantities. Even England.
forced to back upon the United States for sixty
five per cent of her essential foodstuffs, in turn
sends much of the foodstufs received from this
country the channel to France. With the
aid Of the United States and Great Britain France
will be able to tide over until the next harvest.
very important factor to be taken into consid-
Grafton with reference to the shortage of food in
France is the fact that the Hun invader is today
Cupying a part of France that heretofore has pro-
duced more than twenty-five per cent of the total
cereal output of that country and much of the live
stock Another fact to be considered is that France
has been sending food to Italy.
In spite of the fact that the French government
has made strenuous efforts to make the people ac-
cept program Of food conservation, only
measure of success has been attained. In despair.
Monsieur Borets department has given up plan after
plan to make the popuace realize the seriousness
of the food situation. Not that the French people
not patriotic or do not wish to cooperate. but
they cannot accommodate themselves to such wide
departures from the old order of things de-
manded by the regulations of the department of
food. Before the could obtain excellent
meal in France for franc, about twenty cents
Even the average meal hardly ever exceeds five
francs, the equivalent of dollar. This to the
French people, of course is eXorbitantly high. but
compares very favorably with food prices in this
country. There has always been an abundance of
food in France and the people cannot understand
why food shortage exists. The poorer classes
whom the shortage hits the hardest, cannot under
stand why the minister of food asks them to
food which they do not have.
When an American or EngliShman visits Paris
or towns like Tours, Nice Monte Carlo, he
not understand why reports have been circulated
that food shortage exists in France Does not the
evidence of his refute any such statement?
Cannot the American see before him such a meal
he could hardly surpass in New Yorks best cafes
and the Englishman such feast he has not seen
for four long years? Why, then, the reports of
food shortage?
Persons who have made study of the food sit
uation in France declare that any apparent penitude
of food there is superficial They declare that while
in many cases the common classes almost starv-
those who have the price can obtain much to eat
minister of food in many cases wantonly
ignored. An American just returned from France
declares that in spite of the regulations demanding
in France for over a month, obtaining bread at
every meal without card. The visitor to France
is supposed to register with the project of police
upon his arrival, whereupon he is issued bread
card. This American failed to register, consequent
y received bread card yet received all the bread
he wanted. The waiter in a cafe would say Have
you bread card?" Upon receiving an answer in
the negative he would proceed to set before the
American a large portion of war bread. Usually il
a customer possesses a bread card he does not OBJ