Evening star., 1941-11-12
Text of Churchi|Fs War Statement

There are at least 10000 women.
children and non-c combatants In
Abyssinia Ethiopia. Some time
ago, guided by humanitarian in
stincts, we offered to let the italian
government take these people home
If they would send them under the
necessary safeguards to ports of the
Red Sea. The italian government
accepted this proposal and an
agreement was reached on all de-
tails.
But they never have been able so
far to send the ships necessary be-
cause destruction of their shipping
is proceeding at such a high rate
and to such a serious extent.
All this makes me hopeful tbut I
would not prophesy) that the Ger
man and italian boast that they
will take the Suez by the end Of May
last is likely to remain unfulfllled
by Christmas.
Production of Food
Al Home Increases.
But that is much more than we
had the right to expect when the
Italians made war upon us and the
French deserted us in the Mediter-
ranean 18 months ago.
The fact that our shipping losses
have so remarkably diminished-and
diminished at the very time when
Hitler boasted his sea war would be
at its height-must be taken in con-
junction with our greatly increased
production of food at home.
At the beginning of the year, when
it looked as if we should have to
choose to some extent between fooo
and munitions material. asked the
cabinet to approve minimum food
importation which should be MAIN
tained, if necessary, even at the ex-
pense Of munitions material.
There is no doubt that the diet of
our people has been severely cur
tailed and has become far less va
ried and interesting, but still, at the
rate we are now going, it is suffi-
cient for our physical health, al
though I am hoping we shall be able
to give somewhat larger share of
available supplies Of meat to work.
erS, who need 1t most. 80
The agricultural ministers for
England and Scotland are to be con-
graduated upon the very great ex-
pansion they have made in our
home food production. In a short
space of two years. the area under
crops has been increased by no less
than As per cent.
Although the corn harvest that
was gathered was not quite so good
as we had hoped it would be before
I left for the Atlantic meeting-here
I must say shall be as careful about
abstaining from prophecy in agricul-
tural as I am in military matters
the corn harvest crop which has been
garnered was so per cent greater
than in 1899.
Despite all difficulties we must 20
on to produce still more, not only
because OF the ever present menace
to our importations from abroad. but
because 1t is possible as the war de-
velops that our military operations
may make much more extensive de-
mands on our shipping than it now
is possible to meet.
l mention these facts at the risk
of being accused of complacency.
When I spoke a month ago men
toned the fact that our people
would have better Christmas dinners
than last year and dinners which
would be more justified by the food
position. For this I incurred a Sc
we're rebuke from the editor Of the
Daily Herald, who wrote of Spartan
and I trust editorial STATS
will practice as we'll as preach: We
make war, not wassail.
Well, it is a poor heart that never
reJoices. l must say I do not share
the opinions Of those who begrudge
the British people reasonable diet
and square meal at Christmas. l
trust there will not be overindul-
gence, but that We shall not be
blamed for stoking up those fires of
human energy upon which success
in this long struggle depends.
Hess Reveals Hitler
Depended on Blockade.
Some time ago we were anxious
about our coal position, and it still
gives us cause for concern. I am
glad to say, however, thanks to the
president of the Board Of Trade and