The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-04-20
Auction Sale
Slim For
Added Coffee

Washington, Apr. 20 Up -
People who know what they are
talking about warn against any
oyer-optimism about the possibility
OF an increase In United States
coffee rations
Despite recent big shipments
from Brazil, and the fact that some
coffee is now coming in by tram
all the way from Central America
and Mexico. coffee traders here
warn that az whole the picture
is not one TO warrant too much en-.
thusiasm.
I'VE cheer when few hundred
thousand bags OF Brazilian. coffee
arrive in the United States" one
dealer said whereas IL should be
coming In by millions OF bags"
Brazil Shipments Cut
Brazil which formerly sold 60
per cent or more OF the coffee con.
sumed in the United States. due
TO the shipping shortage Is now
barely able to maintain its position
as the principal exporter 10 this
country. Latest statistics OF the
inter-Amelican Coffee Board show
that up 10 March 81, 1913. Bra
lillian coffees delivered into the
United States totaled only 2.l9s.-
40S bags. Colombia was not far
behind with l.967.997 bags in the
same period.
These statistics. for practical pur-
poses. cover the first half OF the
current coffee year. which began
on Oct. /. 1912. They show that at
the present rate of shipments. Bra
I'll will be able 10 MI only about
half OF its basic annual quota Of
100000 bags; Colombia. on the
other hand, Is expected TO more
than IL its basic quot. OF 3,l50,000
bags. Under the enlarged revised
quotas. Columbia may ship up TO
5,5G2,9l6 bags this coffee year
As matter OF fact, so little cot.
fee came here from Santos and Rio
de Janelro earlier in 1913 that for
a brief period Colombia was in first
place as TO amount shipped into
the United States. The report for
the week ending Feb. 10, 1913, for
example. showed that Columbia
had delivered 1.475.435 bags, while
Brazil had delivered only l.363,s29
bags. On Feb. 90 Columbia was
still leading--l,512.737 bags 10
l.496.Sil. On Feb. % the statistics
showed Columbia leading by 1861
$50 bags to i,590.767. BY March s.
Brazil had regained Its traditional
first place position. with shipments
totaling l,ss6,329 to l,S05,62t for
Colombia Since then Brazil has
not lost first place.
U-Boats Effective
! These official figures are mem
| toned here because recently II has
been said in Rio de Janeiro that
the talk" about Columbia having
been ahead OF Brazil in the matter
OF shipping coffee was pro.Axis
propaganda inspired by NTH coli
umnists! Unfortunately. such was
not the case. There Is nothing that
| coffee-drinkers In the L. y. would
like more than for Brazil TO have
always shipped coffee into the Unit
ed States in great quantities. The
truth, however as admitted by Sec
rotary OF the Navy Frank Knox, Is
that the German U-boats have been
very effective in the Atlantic.
Since Columbia Is nearer the Unit
ed States, II naturally enjoys con-
siderable advantage as TO ship
ping. and It really was ahead or
Brazil for a while this year in the
matter OF coffee shipments.
With much OF United States ship
ping tied up in conveys to Africa.
England, Iceland. Russia, the South
Pacific and other areas. and with
the submarines still operating eff
fectively. there Is therefore little
hope that sufficient stocks OF coffee
will be accumulated in this country
at this time 10 warrant an Increase
in the ration.