The Pulaskian., 1918-01-18

The following is the complete text of Herbert Hoover's message to Con gross on the sugar situation, and it will be read by Trade Record readers with much interest.
 For purposes of understanding the world sugar situation, four factors must be borne in mind:
 a. The United States, Canada and England were importing countriesI be- fore the war, while France and Italy were very nearly self-supporting
 b. That the main sources of sup plies to importing countries were:
 1. Germany and neighboring pow CTS,
 2. The West Indies,
 g. The East Indies.
 G. The German sources have been cut off entirely and Germany also absorbs the sugor of surrounding countries at the present time. Before the war England drew approximately 1,400,000 long tons per annum from German and neighboring sources. France produced about 750,000 long tons of beet sugar and exported 50,- coo tons The French production in 1917 fell to 210,000 long tons. Italy produced about 21O,000 long tons and imported almost none The Italian production fell to 75,000 long tons. Thus these three countries were thrown onto West and East Indian sources for 1,925,O00 tons to maintain normal eonsumption-or t reduce this by home economies. The East Indian sugar requires about three times the length of voyage and therefore three times the amount of tonnage to bring from that source compared to the West Indies The actual draft of sugar from the Western Hemisphere by the Allies was 1,420,006 tons against 100000 tons pre-war normal They also drew some 100000 tons from Java and the East Indies.
 d. The steady shertenin gof ship increasing drain on the West Indies. Aside from this constant element of ping throughout the year thrust aR
  month to month another uncertain f8c- to rarose in that we could not judge the effect of their conservation meas ures in Europe. While drastic on the civil population, the consumption of soldiers is far above normal.
 Embago On Supplies.
 The Food Administration was creat- ed August 10th, 1917. The statistical evidence had indicated for some time that the heavy but uncertain draft of Western Hemisphere sugar to Flu rope might narrow our margin of sup plies, pending the new crop. In order to prevent supplies from going else where than to the Allies an embargo upon exports from the United States was put into force on August 27th, 1917, and the Cuban Government CO., operated by placing an embargo OH all it's sugar except to ourselves and the Allies on October 1st, 1917. In the meantime, every effort was made by the Food Administration to secure voluntary reduction of consumption by widespread propaganda, in order that we might afford as much supplies to the Allies as possible.
 Efforts were made to secure Java imports, but no shipping could be al- lowed by the Shipping Board, nor did our efforts succeed in securing for eign shipping.
 In August the English Government reduced the household sugar ration to a basis of "A pounds per annum per capita and in September the French Government reduced their household ration to kilos or about 13.2 lbs, and at the same time, placed further re- strictions upon use in manufacture. In August the French Government found itself unable to maintain even this ration from their supplies and appeal ed to the American Government for exports. These were granted, and it was agreed should be continued up to 100000 tons. The American household consumption being at least B pounds