Evening star., 1939-12-14
Reich Food Minister
Denies Card System
Is Sign Of Shortage
Rotionine Merely Port
Of Wartime Setup,
Dare Insists
By LOTHROP STODDARD.


"Our food card system is merely
the last link in the economic chain
that we were forging long before
the war. The chain extends from
the farm grower to the city con-
sumer, with stable prices all along
the line. The food cards are the
final act of the whole carefully
worked out process, insuring each
citizen his share of food, no mat
ter what the size of his income.
In the World War food cards were
q sign of want. They were started
only when dangerous scarcity al
ready existed. This time, food cards
started on the first day of the war,
although Germany is assured of
foodstuffs for years to come"
Walther Darre, Germanys min
lister of food and agriculture, is the
speaker. He is key figure, for on
his shoulders rests the task of see
ing that Germany is not again
starved out by England's blockade.
This big. energetic man was born
in Argentina, the son of a wealthy
German resident. He spent his
early years in South America and
Is an authority on agriculture in
both hemispheres.
Darres insiStence that Germanys
food cards are merely a part of a
systematic whole led me to ask
him to explain briefly the agri-
cultural policy and aim of the Ma
tional Socialist government.
Three Major Factors.
He answered thoughtfully, when
we came to power in 1888 one of
our chief aims was to save German
agriculture from impending ruin.
However, our agricultural program
went far beyond mere economic
considerations. 1t is based on the
idea that no nation can truly pros
per without sound rural popula-
ton. 1t is not enough that farmers
shall be tolerably well off-they
should also be aware of their place
in the national life and be able to
fill it.
Here are the three big factors in
the problem-one, assure an ample
food supply; two, safeguard the ma
tlonal future by healthy popula-
ton increase: three, develop a dis
tinctive national culture, deeply
rooted in the soil. This ideal log
ically implies an aim which goes
far beyond what is usually known
as an agrarian policy"
That is an interesting line of
reasoning, Mr.. Minister" I said.
"Now, would you mind describing
the means by which you have
carried this out?"
I'VE saw from the first" answered
Dare, that we could not reach
our goal through State action alone.
We needed the help of organized
farmers to put it over. This organ
ization, including everybody from
the big land owners to the farm
laborers, should naturally be led
and furthe1ed by the best brains
OF the country folk. 1t now covers
the whole country and is brilliant
success, aiding us nightly in every
way"
Littled Changed by War.
But the present war, Mr..
Minister" I asked, ""how has it
affected this long-range policy and
your methodist"
''You may be surprised to hear"
he replied, that these matters,
evolved though they were with
peaceful aims, have been little
affected by the war. We are
fortunate in possessing a well-tested
agricultural organization which,
without much difficulty, can be
turned to wartime purposes. In the
World War the lack of just such
an organization was fatal to Ger
many. 1t is self-evident that in
wartime the problem of food pro-
duction and distribution assumes
vital Importance"
True enough" I assented. "Yet
just how has the war affected those
matters?"
Please understand" said Darre,
that precisely in peacetime our
policy was insistently directed to-
ward increasing the production of
all vital agricultural products. These
efforts, which have formed
cardinal point of our agricultural
program ever since we took Office,
have merely been intensified by
the war. They have not been
changed in any notable way.
"Of course, certain aspects of our
agricultural production have gained
added Importance, notably the root
crops, such as sugar beets and
potatoes. 1t is likewise true that
the war has given rise to some new
problems. For instance, we must
find way to counterbalance the
diminution of farm laborers and
draft animals withdrawn from
agriculture for war needs.
Distribution Carefully Managed.
Also, distribution of foodstuffs in
wartime must be more carefully
managed, the ultimate aim being
just and equal distribution at fixed
prices. You see how far we have
gone on this road with our present
food card methods"
Il can see, Mr.. Minister" put
In at this point, that the war has
intensified what even in peacetime
was an agricultural planned econ
ony. How have your farmers re-
acted to all thlS?"
"Our present agricultural system" :"
said the minister, "has been built
up step by step, ever since we took
Office Thus there has been no
sudden change, and neither do our
wartime measures imply any rad
1cal changes.
"Our farmers, who were in so
terrible plight only seven years
ago, have learned very quickly the
security they have gained from our
National Socialist agrarian policy.
It h" one necessary basis-indivi-
dual erests must be subordinated
to t.. common good. may add
that the assent of the agricultural