New-York tribune., 1919-12-23
Food Shortage in
Poland Still Grave:
Profteer Must Die
Government Takes Drastic
Action to Curb Increasing
Prices; New Bill Expected
TO Relieve the Situation
Neto York Tribune
European Bureau

Nctc York Tribune
European Bureau
LONDON, Dec. 1.-The food situa-
tion is still as bad as ever. Normally
the town and industrial population of
Poland requires more than 10000 tons
Of grain weekly for it's needs, writes
the Warsaw spondent of "The
London Times" For the last few
weeks, up till last Tuesday, when the
new food bill which does away with
the government monopoly was passed,
deliveries had fallen to 1000 tons For
nearly three weeks now there has been
practically no bread obtainable in the
government shops, and uncontrolled
bread fetches 10 marks pound. No
wonder that the price Of rye in Illegal
trades has been 800 marks per 100
kilos, against 80 marks, which is the
governments price. NJ. Sliwinsk;, Min
lster of APPROPRIATION, hopes that the
effect Of the new bill will be felt n e
fortnight. Though it introduces free
trade, the bill increases the amount
in the form Of taxes, and should thus
enable it to control prices At the
same time, it strengthens the gove rn-
ment's powers to enforce requisition.
Death for Profiteer
A thaw has set in which relieves to
some extent the sufferings of the POOR
people, who were without either food
or warmth. They have also been cheered
by the news that profiteer, one Brot-
heirn Jew, of Przemysl. has been
condemned to death for the theft of
several trucks of government stocks
The sentence, which was passed under
the Austrian penal code, has been CON
firmed by General Pilsldsk.
1t is thought probable that the present
acute crisis may not last long, though
the same causes which have brought
about famine so soon after the harvest
will naturally affect the food supply of
the country for the whole year. TO be-
gin with, production is much below the
normal; throughout the war less has
been planted, and there has been a lack
of fertilizers. The harvest was poor
and came late, leaving the farmers no
time to thresh. In some localities, Posen,
for instance. threshing was also him
dered through lack of fuel. Finally came
the early frost, which ruined the potato
crop. An old proverb foretold that the
year in which Poland was freed would
fulfilled. The difficulty of coping with
All these factors has been enormously
increased by the failure OF the railways
to meet the task imposed on them.
Big Grain Deficit
The government estimates that the
country will be 10000 tons Of grain
short This includes a liberal allow
ance for the army, and foreign experts
are inclined to regard the estimate as
somewhat excessive, but the deficit will
be not less than 65O000 tons.
On the top Of this there is the
failure of the potato crop to be con-
sdercd. Potatoes normally come sec
ond only to bread as a staple article
of food in Poland. America is al
ready sending 100000 tons to meet
this deficit, and it seems likely that the
greater part OF the balance will have 70
De imported from the same source, as
no large amount car be counted or
from Rumania and the Ukraine.
The government crisis has not ad-
vanced much further The coalition
Of the Center parties, which at one
time seemed certain, is lust az far
from realization as ever
Paderewski Is Attacked
The parliamentary discussion on NJ.
Paderewski's expose produced no re-
suits The policy and actions of the
SoNel HhHcul ana ministers were held
up to ridicule and ripped to pieces for
more than an hour by NJ. Daszynski,
the Socialist leader. one Of the most
effective speakers in the Diet. But as
the Socialists always have their dag
gers into me government up 10 the llilt
at any. time, another stab, however
vicious. does not produce much impres-
sion. The representative of the Ma
tonal Democrats. who preceded NJ
Daszynski, tempered his criticism care
fully SO as to avoid direct opposition
to NJ. Paderowski After these two
speeches, further discussion was ad-
journed until Tuesday.
The most positive effect on the situa-
ton has been produced by the promise
of American grain. The favorable deal
for railway rolling stock which has
been made with the British govern
mont will doubtless further send up
the temperature when the news Is
made public. 1t is possible that this
evidence of Allied interest and supporI
may set NJ. Paderewski on his feet
again.