Evening star., 1946-04-20
Millions Will Die
Unless We Eat Less.
Truman Declares
(TertS OF Truman and Hoouer
speeches on Page A-3.J
BY the Associated Press

41lC OIlICeu OCdGeS Ope1leQ al
intensive new attack on the
global food crisis today, ordering
a 25 per cent slash in domestic
flour consumption and calling
for even more vigorous self-ra-
tioning food in American homes
The emergency. President Truman
revealed, has become so acute that
this country's already-loW wheat re-
serves are going to be cut even
further to furnish famine relief.
Mr.. Truman told the Nation that
the greatest threat of mass Starva-
ton in the history of mankind" con-
fronts the world. =
Millions will surely die unless we
eat less" he said in a plea to the
warm heart of America" for greater
voluntary food conservation by the
people.
The flour consumption cut was a
direct step toward helping the coun-
try supply famished overseas areas
with a million tons of wheat month
ly-the goal set by the President for
the next three months. The re-
duction order is effective at mid
night tomorrow and will continue in
effect until June 30.
Six-Point Program.
Agriculture Department officials
estimate that the flour cut will yield
the equivalent of 25,000,000 bushels
of wheat in the period
Mr.. Truman summoned the Ma
ton to redoubled famine relief
efforts in Nationwide all-network
radio broadcast last night. He was
Joined on the program by former
President Herbert Hoover, speaking
from Cairo; UNRRA Director
General La Guardia and Secretary
of Agriculture Anderson.
1t was Mr.. Anderson who an
nounced the flour reduction order as
part of a siX-point administration
program to provide more food for
export Other points:
l. A Government bonus to farmers
of 80 cents bushel for wheat de-
livered up to May 25-an inducement
aimed at siphoning upwards of l60,-
100000 bushels of wheat from farm
storage.
2. A like bonus per bushel to
farmers for 5O,00O,0O0 bushels of
corn, to be resold to feeders and
professors in urgent need.
g. A Government offer to buy an
unlimited amount of oatmeal for
starvation areas.
4. A 25 per cent cut in the amount
of wheat used by food manufacture
ers in ptoducts for domestic human
consumption.
5. A reduction in the wheat inven-
tories of millers and food manufac-
turers to not more than 81 days.
Mr.. La Guardia appealed "desper-
ately" to farmers to supply the need
ed wheat fast for shipment to lands
where people are dying"
Urges Wartime Measures.
Mr.. Hoover, recommending an eX-
port target of 100000 tons of wheat
monthly, recommended that the
Government resort to wartime meas
ures providing for mandatory set
asides of food.
Mr.. Hoover reported on the dire
food situation he has found in Eu-
rope and the Middle East on his sur
Vey inspection trip undertaken at
Mr.. Truman's request. The former
President is honorary chairman of
the Famine Emergency Committee
The United States, he said, will
have to shoulder a big part of the
load in providing relief supplies, but
he called on Britain, Russia and
Latin American nations to do their
full share.
He termed the crisis unique be-
cause it has a definite terminal
date-the arrival of the next
harvest"
"If every source of supplies will
do its utmost" he continued, I'VE
can pull the world thruogh this
most dangerous crisis.
The burden will be heavy on the
United States and we cannot do
more. Europe and other countries
must look to the other sources for
the balance"
If the suggested plans are adopted,
he said, the United States will be
supplying about A per cent of what
the faminine areas need. Canada,
he said, would provide about 20
per cent, Britain about 10, Australia
(See FOOD, Page A-3D