Evening star., 1946-03-12
Hoover Urges
Latin America 10
Aid Food Drive
Sees Reporters and
Byrnes Before He
Leaves for Europe
By Malcolm Lomborne, Jr.


chairman Of the Famine Emer-
gency Committee, today called
on other nonfamine nations, par
aticularly Latin American coun-
tries, to take steps to provide an
additional 5000, 900 tons of grain
for relief feeding.
The United States embarked on a
four-month program of voluntary
rationing of wheat products and fats
to help feed needy countries. Tho
former. President met reporters at
the Mayf1ower Hotel and then Wis
ited Secretary Of State Byrnes in
preparation for his departure for
Europe to survey food needs. Mr..
Hoover said he would fly to France
Sunday.
Mr.. Hoover renewed his appeal
for authority for Secretary of Agri-
culture Anderson to adjust price in
equities to free more grain now on
farms or being fed to livestock.
pointing out that supplies of cereals
now, available to avert starvation
are 100000 to 5000 900 tons short
of minimum needs.
Will Be Accompanied by Gibson.
He estimated that with the volun-
tary reduction of wheat consump-
ton in this country and the freeing
OF grains, the United States can
supply an extra 100000 tons of
wheat for starving persons overseas.
The former President disclosed
that Hugh Gibson, veteran Ameri-
can diplomat, and a group of men
who served with him in famine re-
lief after the last war, would ac-
company him on his European tour.
Questioned on whether he would
visit Russian-dominated countries,
Mr.. Hoover said he intended to step
in every country receiving or ned
ing relief, including Yugoslavia,
Greece and Italy, and added: II
don't expect any one to prevent me
from conducting this humane mis-
sion"
Asked to comment on criticism by
the CIO and National Political Acx
tion Committee of his appointment
to the overseas food survey Job, Mr..
Hoover replied: 81 don't want to
take notice of such Shiny stuff
Suggests Invisible Guests"
The former President suggested
that householders should entertain
at their table an invisible guest-if
they could visualize some starving
person is, in fact, sitting at their
table and depends on them for
food"
Asked whether he believed former
enemy people such as the Germans
and japanese should be placed at
the bottom of the list in distributing
limited food supplies, Mr.. Hoover re-
piled:
I'm interested only in saving
human lives"
In calling for a 40 per cent re-
duction in consumption Of wheat
and 40 per cent cut in fats during
the coming 120 days, the Famine
Committee limited that the conser-
vatlon program may be extended
beyond June if this country falls
short OF its relief goals.
A 39-point conservation program
was directed to operators of public
eating places, the baking industry.
1000 distributors and manufacturers
and householders and ranged from
open-faced pies to a 10 per cent
slash in the weight of bread.
Cafes and Hotels to Help.
Washington restaurateurs will CO.
operate with the committees pro-
gram I'm every way possible" Rob-
ert j. Wilson, executive secretary of
the Washington Restaurant Associ-
alton, declared today.
He said the whole program would
De reviewed at membership meet
ing Monday and that in the mean
time the association was preparing
bulletin for its members outlining
the steps recommended by the Fam
Inc Committee. Mr.. Wilson added
that the group would intensity its
educational program on food con-
servation.
Hotels here will put into operation
Immediately the committees recon-
mendatlons, Arthur j. Barnett, ex.
ecutive secretary of the Washington
Hotel Association, promised. 1--WE
oeneVe 1t will result in an immense
saving" he commented.
Price Ceilings Unaffected.
The tightening up of menus and
Shorter bread weights will not re-
suit in any lowering of price CELL
lngs. according to Agriculture De-
partment sources. Bakers, for in
stance, stand to take a loss as
the Nation cuts down on its con-
sumption of wheat.
The committee, which met in a
day-long session yesterday, warned
that the world faces the gigantic
emergency of famine among 500
5000 people due to war exhaustion
OF agriculture and drought" The
statement added:
"A great human cry has come to
us to save them over a terrible four
months until the next harvest. The
Western Hemisphere alone has the
aid to give, and heavy part of the
burden falls upon the United
States"
The committee urged an intensifi-
cation OF Victory garden programs
and a cut in food wastage. On this
second point, it observed: America
still throws away the richest garbage
in the world"
While the committee called for
belt Tightening on wheat and fats.
tsee FOOD, Page A-5)