The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-26
Industriial
Sss'
= : :
Hoover Sees in Ruhr Situation
Advantage to U. S. Manu-.
facturers and Harm
10 Farmers.
Germans ace FoodC Crisis
by GEORGE +. AUTHlER.

Washington, Jan. 25.--tSpecial.)-
Confidence in the continued industrial
prosperity of the United States, de-
spite the French occupation of the
Ruhr and the consequent interruption
of German production, was expressed
by Secretary of Commerce Hoover
here today Temporary advantage
for the manufacturing industry of the
country is confidently looked forward
to, although additional depression for
agriculture is anticipated as a result
of the lessening of German ability to
buy the normal supply of foodstuffs.
This combined encouragement and
depression is not expected to turn the
tide in the general direction of pros
perity, although it will make the
farming situation more difficult.
No agency of the government has
expressed approval of the proposal
to establish foreign credits for the
purchase of American foodstuffs as
contained in the Norbeck- Nelson bill
providing for fund amounting to
$3.50 900 900 for this purpose. The
hope is expressed that the Germans
may in some way find means OF H.
nancing their purchases, although no
methods for doing so are forthcom-
ing from Washington.
Food Crisis Expected.
Germany, it is estimated in De
partment OF Commerce circles, will
require about s150,O0O,Oo0 of food
stuffs between now and September
next. a large amount of this should
already be on the way and with in
terruptions due to the European situ'
alton food crisis is expected in that
country by April next
The advantage which is expected
to accrue to the United States will
be reaped largely by the producers
OF steel products, but is expected to
apply to all forms OF manufactures
susceptible to export. Tieing up of
the Ruhr industries and stopping the
easy flow of coal into Germany prop
er, plus interruption of transport, is
expected to interfere materially with
all forms of material production in
Germany. BY this means, Germany
1t is expected, will pay in the sacrifice
of world markets. which she was re-
gaining rapidly, for the Ruhr occupa-
ton is regarded as a blow aimed at
the very industrial heart of Germany.
The advantage that will accrue to
this country is looked upon as only
a temporary one, but hope is ex-
pressed that ip the readjustment the
TT,; will ho ol,ln m hrca l.
even.
Farmer Again to Suffer.
The effect of the European situa-
ton upon agriculture is regarded as
serious. With the price of the home
product affected by the surplus for
export, the farmer is expected to suf-
fer materially by slowing up of Ger.
man purchasing power and the delay
to the European recovery.
Government experts see in this sit
uation which is building up manufac-
turers and depressing agriculture, a
continued movement to the cities and
into the industrial centcrs
1t is believed this migration is al
ready evident in the movement Of
tiSSlVco IL lOii tbC oOulil lIllO Tie IlOI III
which is reaching startling proper
tions and threatens grave limitation
of farm labor in the southern sections.
This movement, it is expected, will
result in reduced crop production and
in increasing the consuming market
for the lessened farm acreage
Urge Economic Conference.
The European situation as it affects
agriculture is prompting western farm
members to more determined action
to bring about government aid in fl
nancing the sale of crops abroad.
Senator Norbeck of South Dakota.
whose bill to provide q revolving fund
for foreign credits was reported by
the senate committee on agriculture,
will press for favorable action upon
his measure while other farm senators
are urging an economic conference
or are leaning towards the Borah
proposition for political conference
which might terminate the impasse
between Germany and France.
In the meantime. the Department of
Commerce has received reports from
Russia showing that the wheat acre.
age in that country will be greatly in
creased this year over last. Most of
the grain raised in Russia is winter
wheat and rye. No check on these
reports has been received, but it is
accepted as accurate.
This means that the government
will probably terminate the work Of
the Russian relief commission within
the near future. The increased acre
age is believed to represent ability
of Russia to feed itself, although
In that country make such a result
uplikely.