The Era-leader., 1919-01-09
MUST Increase
FOOD EXPORTS
America Called on by End OF
War to Supply Added
Millions.
ECONOMY STILL NEEDED.
Over Three Times Pre-War Shipments
Reoulred-situation In Wheat and
Fats Proves Governments
Policy Sound.
ECONOMY STILL NEEDED.

can be lightened to the slightest de-
gree with the cessation Of hostilities
Millions Of people liberated from the
prussian yoke are now depending
upon rs Tor the food which Will keep
them from starvation.
With food the United States made
1t possible for the forces OF democ-
racy to hold out to victory. To insure
democracy in the world, we must con-
tinue to live simply in order that we
may supply these liberated nations OF
Europe With food. Hunger among
people Inevitably breeds anarchy.
American food must complete the work
of making the world safe for democ-
racy.
Last year we sent 11,S2O,000 tons Of
food to Europe. For the present year,
with only the European Allies to feed,
We had originally pledged ourselves to
a program that would have increased
our exports to 17,500,0N tons. Now,
to feed the liberated nations, we will
have to export total Of not less than
100000 toas-practically the limit
Of leading capacity at our ports. Re-
viewing the world food situation, we
find that some foods will be obtainable
In quantities sufficient to meet all
world needs under a regime Of eco
nomical consumption. On the other
hand, there will be marked world
shortages in some important commodi-
ties.
Return to Normal Bread Loaf.
With the enlarged wheat crops
which American farmers have grown,
and the supplies of Australia, the Ar
gentine and other markets now acces.
sible to shipping, there are bread
grains enough to enable the nations to
return to their normal wheat loaf,
provided we continue to mill -four at
a high percentage Of extraction and
maintain economy in eating and the
avoidance of waste.
In fats there will be q heavy short
age - about 3,OOO,O00,00O pounds - in
pork products, dairy products and
vegetable oils. While there will be a
shortage of about three million tons
in rich protein feeds for dairy ami
mails, there will be sufficient supplies
Of other feedstuffs to allow economical
consumption.
In the matter of beef, the worlds
supplies are limited to the capacity of
the available refrigerating ships. The
supplies of beef in Australia, the Ar
gentine and the United States are suf.
ficient to load these ships. There will
be shortage In the importing coun.
tries, but we cannot hope to expand
exports materially for the next months
in view of the bottle neck in trans.
pOrtation.
We will have sufficient supply Of
sugar to allow normal consumption IL
this country If the other nations re-
tain their presen, short rations or In
crease them only slightly. For the
countries of Euroyc, however, to In
crease their present rations to q ma
terial extent will necessitate our shar
Ing a part Of our own supplies witt
them
Twenty Million Tons Of Food.
/ OF the world total, North Americs
will furnish more than 60 per cent
The United States, including the Wes
Indies, will be called upon to furnisa
2O,OOO,OO0 tons of food Of all kinds al
compared with our pre-war exports O
about 100000 tons.
While we will be able to change on
program in many respects, even {
casual survey Of the world supple
In comparison to world demands show
conclusively that Europe win know
famine unless the American peopb
bring their home consumption dow
to the barest minimum that will main
tain health and strength.
. There are conditions of famine 4
Europe that will be beyond our powe
to remedy. There are 100000 pee
pie in North Russia whom there
small chance of reaching with foo
this winter. Their transportation
demoralized in complete anarchy, an
! shortly many of their ports will b
frozen. even If internal transpol
could be realized.
. To Preserve Civilization.
: At this moment Germany has M
i, alone sucked the food and animal
;, from all those masses Of people st
u has dominated and left starving, b,
h she has left behind her total wrec
age of social institutions, and tn
mass of people is now confronted vii
absolute anarchy.
Il. If we value our own safety and Il
social organization of the world, II Y
value the preservation Of civilizatll
. itself, we cannot permit growth Of tn
: cancer In the worlds vitals.
Famine Is the mother OF anarch
From the inability Of governments
: secure food for their people groy
revolution and chaos. From an abili
TO supply their people grows stabili
OF government and the defeat Of a
archy. Did we put II on no high
plane than our interests In the pr