The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-14
farm bOARDKEEPS
u. S. PRICES ABOVE
FOREIGN QUOTATIONS
No European Country Has
Found Situation Practicable
for Similar Practice
HAVE SURPLUS TROUBLES
Six Conferences Have Been
Held on Continent; Take
Up Tariff Questions
BY FREDERIC c. HAsKIN

Washington, D. c., Jan. IA
western farmers have not been dis
tressed by low wheat prices nor con-
greSs perplexed with relief plans be-
cause OF a purely American overpro-
auction of the great grain staple.
Other surplus wheat reproducing coun-
tries have been embarrassed by too
large supplies with a consequent diff
ficulty in finding foreign outlets. The
situation in Europe, especially in
southeastern Europe, has been so
u that a series of conferences
have been held or ways and means
OF handling the surplus. What has
been accomplished along this line So
FAR has been characterized as the
first move in the general spirit of the
scheme for a United States of Europe
which has been so enthusiastically
fathered by NJ. Aristide BRAND, for
mcr premier of France.
In the United States, the Federal
Farm board was created as an emer-
gency measure for aiding in the stu
alton. Because in some respects the
American wheat situation is more
SELF contained, direct financial sup
port could be given the price Of
wheat. Through the expenditure of
many millions Of dollars effective
support has been given and the
American wheat price has been kept
above world levels.
Has Not Been Practical
It has not been practicable for any
wheat-surplus country of Europe to do
this. No such country now has the fl
nancial resources to enable it to u p
port its wheat market On the same
scale as that adopted in this country
by the Federal Farm board. Moreover,
on this side of the water there is a
geographical isolation, except for
Canada. In Europe excess supplies
OF wheat merely have to move across
a land border to be in another coun-
try rather than undergo a long ocean
haul.
Such being the case, cooperation
IN governing the disposal of supplies
to the best advantage of all has come
to be regarded as imperative. While
so far the diplomats of Europe have
not succeeded in adopting the idea of
a United States of Europe in the
handling Of diplomatic questions and
questions regarding ornaments, ma
tional defense, and the like, it is
thought probable that economic pres
sure may force the adoption of such
a plan for the better direction of
economic crises.
Six conferences have been held in
southeastern Europe since last July
when the 1880 wheat crop began to
be harvested. The participating ma
tlons-al surplus producing-are
Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Rumania,
and Jugoslavia.
Plan Is Recommended
In general. the scheme undertaken
is to have each nation set up an ex-
port control body which can definite
ly regulate the movement Of wheat
shipments across boundaries. Beyond
these bodies, there is designed an in
ternational control representing all
OF the involved nations This will be
E composed Of representatives of the
several countries and will have au-
thority to adjust the situation in the
. best interests OF all. Thus, if Hun
gary has a greater wheat surplus
than Poland, export movements cal
culated to relieve the greatest con-
gestion will be directed by the inter-
. national control, distributing the
excess wheat and maintaining a fair
economic level for all.
It is believed that the international
control might go even further. For
example, it might be utilized in pre-
vailing upon farmers of these coun-
tries to curtail acreage as the Federal
Farm board has attempted to do in
this country. Also, it is expected an
attempt will be made to induce other
European nations which a-e more
highly organized industrially to min
imize their agricultural activities,
particularly as to grain, so that they
will develop a larger consumptive de-
mand calling for imports from the
surpluS-producing nations.
Better progress has been made in
connection with this economic effort
than with any Of the diplomatic ar
rangementS. It is recognizeu that
full success cannot well attend the
scheme without ultimate cooperation
Of the nations Of western Europe.
1nasmuch as an excellent start has
been made among these Balkan Ia
tions, usually characterized by diff
ficulties most trying to resolve, it is
hoped that such an extension Of the
plan may be effected.
The six conferences which have
been held % far did not have any
plenary powers. The plans for ma
tional and international wheat con-
troll boards so far have taken the
form only Of recommendations The