Evening star., 1941-07-13
War ond q Hungry
World
Bv Frederic J. Hdskin.

the theater OF Europes most devastating
war. A large portion Of those who have
been fortunate enough TO get away Of
their own accord, or ito be taken out
through humanitarian efforts, have
found refuge in the United States, the
worlds best haven when trouble breaks
out elsewhere. The majority of these
people are women and children, and
although their lot as refugees is not a
happy one, they have no fears of not
being fed and clothed during the APP
preaching winter. But what is Of deep
concern to them, and to host of peo-
pie in the United States and other
democracies is how many of the mil
lions left behind are going TO fare in
the face of Europes diminishing food
supply. 1t Is certain that famine Is
inevitable.
As the war is prolonged, destroying
natural resources, retarding production
and keeping blockades in effect, the
possibility of widespread suffering next
winter becomes more apparent. To be
sure there was much suffering in Europe
last winter, for relief agencies which
rendered aid to the best of their ability
report that thousands of deaths can
well be attributed TO the lack OF food.
Not many people die Of actual starva-
ton. Long before they get to that point
their resistance is so lowered by NAL
nutrition that they die of disease. Chill
dren weaken first, women and older
men next, and the infection from these
cesspools of contagion is spread over the
world without regard to boundary or
ideology.
Because of the great difficulty Of get
ting reliable reports from Germany and
German-controlled countries, no one
knows how great Is the need for food
in most of Europe. or what the posi-.
bilities are for many of the beleaguered
countries to sustain themselves during
the frightful months which seem TO lie
ahead But from Greece, Belgium, Po-
land, Norway, all of France. and even
once opulent Denmark, stories about
the shortage of food are emanating,
Many factors have contributed to
this sad state of affairs. The 325,-
100000 people in Europe exclusive OF
Russia, normally import approximately
Is per cent of their food. This includes
direct import of food and import of
that from which food is made. All this,
however, has been stopped by the Brit
ish blockade Moreover, the inevitable
effect of war has degenerated farm
production because of the mobilization
Of man power, lack of fertilizers and the
destruction of land as a result of battle.
In addition, many of the German-occu-
pied countries have been hard hit by
unfavorable seasons. Holland suffered
a loss of approximately one-third Of
her best farming land and most OF her
crops last year by the breaking OF hum
dreds of dykes as last attempt to check
the invading German Army. The Brit
ish have escaped a dire shortage Of food
only because of assistance being re-
ceived from the United States under the
LeaseLend Act.
This is damaging enough to the morale
and physical life of the nations which
have been forced to bow to the dictates
of Germany, but Berlin has never denied
the numerous reports that large sup
plies of foodstuffs and cattle have been
transferred, or requisitioned as the Nazis
put it, from German-occupied lands to
the Reich. This is evidenced by Hitlers
repeated statement that no German will
60 hungry.
Even when direct removal OF food
stuffs is not widespread, the Nai armies
Of occupation cause a steady drain on
national stock For example, there are
said to be in Norway 10000 German
soldiers who require fats and meats
difficult TO send from Germany Flour
is reported coming from the Reich, but
Norway's milk, hogs and poultry must
spread to cover needs of the invaders.
This great possibility of more suffering
and a greater number of deaths in
Europe, as an indirect result of war,
finds the American people in a receptive
mood to help. Three reasons are ad-
vanced for this willingness. In the first
place there are millions Of people in the
OihtC0 SVdpCo wiz diC AilPONCIiollCQ pc-
cause they cannot sell their crop sur
pluses, or because they have been forced
to sell them at prices where the profit
b near naught. These people are anxious
that some way be worked out TO sell food
to German occupied Europe. pointing
out that one group is, starving for lack
Of food and the other economically
hoy, lioor -
The second reason is that of goodwill
gesture for, as many point out. II the
United States is to have any influence
in the rebuilding OF war-torn Europe
1t must now show friendly hand. The
third is purely humanitarian, exercising
of the Christian spirit for which this
country stands.
All this places the American people in
q dilemma They want TO sell their
surpluses, exercise friendly spirit to-
ward the once democracies of Europe,
and they want to act the part of the
Good Samaritan. But the difficulty Is
that the British, who are recipients of
this country's present assistance, will not
lift the blockade, although British SYM
pathies run deep and strong toward their
friends who are in want under the Nazis.
But in this refusal to lift the blockade
Britain also confronts a dilemma in
separable from German control of nearly
all the continent. London asks how the
Royal Navy, fighting for the survival and
freedom not only of Britain but of op-
pressed peoples in Europe, could let food
pass the blockade with any assurance
that il would not STRENGTHEN DIRECTLY or