The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-08-21
ABOUT FEEDING EUROPEAN PEOPLE

The plea that is being made for the
civihan population OF Norway, the Neither
lands, Belgium and Poland, in the belief
that millions may face wholesale starva-
ten, death and disease naturally moves
every American.
Former President Herbert Hoover
considers it possible that France will also
contain suffering individuals. He thinks
someone must intervene eff these people
are to be saved Mr.. Hoover would Sc
cure agreements from Great Britain and
Germany to permit an organization to feed
these helpless men, women and children.
The former President would require
guarantees from Germany to take none of
the domestic produce of these peoples, to
replace food already taken, to permit ship
ments of food from Russia and the Balkans,
to allow free passage of ships carrying
food and to permit the distribution of sup
plies by an organization under guarantees
that the Reich will not profit by the relief
work.
The British would be asked to permit
the passage of ships carrying cargOes for
these people so long as the guarantees are
carried out.
The attitude of the British govern
ment is that, as matters stand now, the
Government. in control of the areas, has
the obligation of providing for the popula-
ton and that to permit neutrals to feed
them would assist German war efforts
against England by relieving her of the
task of feeding the 100000 people
Nazi quarters, London says, have re-
peatedly stated that German food reserves
are ample for all needs but British officials
point out that distribution of food by rail
and canal will prevent exclusive use of
transportation facilities for war purposes.
Along this line, Prof Arthur Lehman
GOOdhart, of Oxford, England, says that
Hitler needs food material, especially fats,
for the manufacture of explosives and that
his choice between gums and butter is
literally true" He argues that every
pound of food which enters territory con-
trolled by Germany will be used directly
or indirectly in making bombs with which
to attack England" 1t will be used direct
indirectly if the food relieves Germany of
the necessity of sharing existing supplies
with the people she dominates.
1t seems to us that Hitler is attempt
ing to enslave the peoples of conquered
territories. requiring them to supply the
labor to produce the munitions and sup
plies that the German army will require.
Certainly, it would be a favor to him If
neutral nations take up the business OF
feeding the workmen that he will use IN
the plants that produce his war necessl-
ties.
If Hitler takes the resources of the
conquered territories for German use, and
there is no reason to doubt his taking them,
he should not be relieved of the obligation
of feeding the people he controls.
So far as we are concerned, we regret
very much that, because of the war, Bel
GUM, the Netherlands, Norway and Poland
are cut off from the imports that they re-
quire to feed their people. However, be-
fore Hitler invaded their soil, the British
blockade did not operate to prevent rea-
sonable imports of food for their people.
Since Hitler attacked and occupied them
the British have been forced to consider
them enemy territory and enforce the
blockade against them.