Evening star., 1940-08-06
Belgium Facing
Winter Famine,
Cudahy Warns
Must Receive Food
By Mid-September,
He Says in London
ey the Associated Press.


LONDON, Aug. 6.-John Cudahy
United States Ambassador to Bel
gium, declared today that unless
supplies of food from America
reach Belgium by mid September
people will be reduced to a condition
"close to famine"
Mr.. Cudahy said he would present
the situation when he returns to the
United States next week and
further present "the reality of deal
ing with force as the only power >
The Ambassador declined to
amplify this remark, leaving some
Of his hearers with the impression
that he meant the United States
must be prepared to deal economi-
cally and politically with Germany
as the dominant power on the conti-
nent of Europe.
When the truth is known about
King Leopold (of the Belgians)," he
said, his decision to surrender will
not only be accepted but will be ap-
plauded."
1t was recalled that during and
after the World War the American
Relief Administration, under Herbert
Hoover, spent total of $695 900, 600
TO prevent starvation in Belgium.
British Bar Shipments.
Mr.. Cudahy declared the question
OF United States supplies of food was
academic" until Britain knows
where she stands"
He said he understood the Min
lstry of Economic Warfare at pres
ent would refuse to allow any sup
plies of food to reach the Belgians.
Their situation is very, very Sc
rious," he said Belgium imports
rs per cent of her wheat. Present
supplies, with severe rationing-225
grams, or half pound, of bread per
person per day-will last until Sep
tember l, or at best until early Octo-
ber.
"If you gentlemen think the con-
tinent is bowling hell now, what
do you think it will be this winter?"
The diplomat declared, Il knew of
not one authentic atrocity COM
mitted by the German Army in Bel
GUM. The Germans behaved them
selves with great restraint"
Grim Picture of Belgium.
His picture of the industrial and
agricultural conditions in Belgium
was grim.
"All industry has stopped. Thou
sands upon thousands of people left
the country and there are still more
than 2,500.000 Belgians somewhere in
France.
''1n their homeland harvests are
sotting In the SUM-"
Comparing World War feeding of
Belgium with the present situation
Mr.. Cudahy said German possession
of Channel ports changes the sit
uation entirely"
II travelled constantly throughout
Belgium until the diplomatic corps
was dismissed by the Germans on
July 15," Mr.. Cudahy said. Every
where I asked people if they had
been ill-treated. All said no, no
pillaging, no shooting of civilians
was soldier in the last war and I
think these Germans behaved bet
ter than United States soldiers
would have done"
Mr.. Cudahy said he had many
talks with the German military gov
ernor and there was no basis for ne
gotiation on the problem of feeding
the Belgians "as yet"
'The Germans told me they were
prepared to feed their armies from
Germany, but they we're quite frank
in saying that if their lines of COM
munication were disrupted, they
would expect to live off the coun-
try" Mr.. Cudahy added
Leopold War Prisoner.
King Leopold, Mr.. Cudahy said, is
q prisoner of war in the summer
palace outside Brussels, having been
transferred there after asking for
simpler place to live"
"I saw him just before I left.
feel we should try and see both sides
of his predicament, not judge harsh
ly on insufficient facts.
Put yourself in his place. He
commanded an army of half a mill
lion men which intermingled with
as many panic-stricken refugees
He was haunted by the thought that
each hour he continued the resist
ance it meant death not only to his
soldiers but to those helpless people
Faced by the prospect of this
sacrifice OF human life, he had nc
other choice"
Mr.. Cudahy declared the Germans
were very confident" they could
successfully invade Britain. The
Belgians, he said, know a British
victory is their only hope of saliva
ton"