Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-04
FOOD SUPPLY
is ADEQUATE.
SAYS HOOVER
Enough to Meet Worlds
Needs Unless Some Ca
tastrophe Occurs.

Paris, Tuesday, June 3.-There is
a sufficient surplus of food, indi-
Gated from the coming harvests TO
supply Europe and meet the needs
of the world unless some unexpect-
ed catastrophe happens to the
worlds harvests, according to a
statement issued today by Herbert
c. Hoover, the head of the allied
relief organizations.
The bread budget balances, but
the surplus of the American crop
Of wheat and rye this year will be
needed. The statement says that
most of the trading in wheat and
rye will be in the hands of the gov
ernments.
Give Figures on Crops.
Other figures gained from the
survey made by the organization
and various governments indicate
that the sugar crop in eastern Eu-
rope this year will be 65 per cent
of pre-war normal, the wheat and
rye crop n per cent and the vege-
table harvest about normal. Since
the war, it is estimated Europe has
lost $4,000 cattle, 100000 hogs
and S,60O,00O sheep.
After estimating the European
consumption of wheat and rye at
100000 bushels, of which be-
tween 700.00O,000 and S50,000,OOO
bushels will have to be imported,
the statement continues:
"The available breadstuffs to
Europe from the producing coun-
tries probably will lie between no.
100000 and S50,000,000 bushels. 1t
would appear, therefore. that the
worlds bread budget will balance
next year. but within narrow mar
gins. The principal importing Eu-
ropean governments have all guar
anteed their farmers prices at high
er levels than the American guar
antee and all are involved in bread
There will not be much
OF much private trade in
wheat next year outside of govern
ment buying.
New Countries Must Be Fed.
1.-The Is new governments that
have sprung from the old central
Europe have been slowly evolving
during the period since the armi-
stice. They have had to be fed
from the outside, their distribution
has had to be managed for them
and they had food largely on credit
from the United States, or starva-
ton on a wholesale scale would
have ensued. Europe would have
been plunged into an anarchy from
which it would not have recovered
N 10 years.
Gave S2.75O,0 900 Worth.
I'm addition to this we nave had
also to carry the large burden of
feeding the allies on credit. Few
people realize that during the year
ending next July we will have sup
Piled Europe with $2,750, 900 900
worth of food and that the whole
If this has been supplied by our ma
.ional government except perhaps
400 0,000,000
with peace all European states
;an manage their own transporta-
ion and distribution and therefore
of the worlds food |
control as it exists today is unnec-
No Need for Gurther Control.
All the important governments in |
he world, with the exception OF
hat of Argentina, having guaran- |
eed prices of wheat farmers, and !
III the European governments hav- !
ng subsidized the bread supply it !!
S considered probable here that !
commerce in wheat will remain in |
government hands next year, and |
hat there will be little private |
rading The American members of !
he supreme economic council. how |
evr, believe there is no necessity |
f continuing centralized control of |
he distribution IN Europe The |
uestion of food control after peace !
las been signed has been discuss |,
d by the economic council, Her
ert c. Hoover, and the other
members opposing con-
rol, taking the view that, as there
will be no food shortage after tne
ext harvest, food control as it now
xists, is unnecessary.
Against Price Fixing.
Mr.. Hoover contends that normal |
rading should be reestabiished |
throughout the world as no guaran-
ees exist for other commodities and
hat if attempts are made to control
rices in other commodities pro-
uction will be stifled and a short
ge created.
Paris, Tuesday, June 3-The last
bod ships under the direction of
he American food control organ
yation will leave America late in
une, unless there should be change
1 the worlds affairs and new leg !
Station is passed by the United !
tates congress, it was indicated
ere today.
Herbert c. Hoover, chairman OF
ne inter-allied food commission,
that normal trading should
e established throughout the
Torld and insists that attempts
lade to control prices will tend to