Ad-daleel., 1946-07-31
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE

Latin American countries are cutting their
imports of wheat and flour and shipping
more cereals and other foods abroad for fam
inc relief, Edward ]. Frawley, Chairman of
the Detroit Famine Emergency Committee
reported in another series of questions and
answers on the world food crisis. This paper
publishes the following material as a contri-
button to the national food conservation pro-
gram.
1. What are the Latin American countries
doing to aid the world food situation?
Ans.-In the words of former President
Hoover, who has just returned from trip to
every important Latin American nation, =
These nations are making a real contribu-
ton to closing the gap in supplies to the
hungry world. This aid takes two forms
a reduction of imports of critical foods by
the nations which do not raise enough food
for themselves and an increase of exports
by the nations able to ship foods abroad.
For example, Brazil normally imports about
100000 tons of wheat a month. During the
wheat shortage, Brazil has reduced her i'm
ports by over 40 percent, while increasing
her normal exports of corn, rice and BEANS
all valuabl foods in famine relief. AS one
means of making wheat 60 farther, Brazil is
mixing mandioca flour and corn meal with
wheat flour.
Latin America has increased it's rice pro-
duction considerably, and this rice, much of
which is moving in export trade, is helping
to render the world grain shortage less acute.
Countries and areas in which substantial in
creases in rice output lave been achieved
since the beginning of the war include Column
bia, Central America, Mexico, Ecuador and
Peru.
President Hoover estimates that emergen-
cy measures by Latin American countries
are making available about 800, 900 tons more
cereals and beans than previously counted on.
Exports of cereals and beans will be at the
rate of about $40, 1000 tons a month during
four critical months-June through Septem-
Der.
2. Why are we shipping flour and wheat
to Latin American countries when it
is so short here and in Europe?
Ans.-The people of Latin America also
have to eat bread, and many of the coun-
tries have been steady customers of our mills
and elevators for many years. Those located
north of the equator have always depended
on the United States for wheat and flour
shipments. AS a result, all during the war
and up to the present, the Combined Food
Board has made ALLEGATIONS of wheat and
flour to these countries. The amount involved
was about II percent of the shipments in
1945 and those reported through June 10 of
this year. During the war years, we exported
about 100000 short tons of wheat and flour
in terms of wheat a year to Latin America.
Shipments were rather heavy in the last half
of 1915, because Argentina and other Latin
American producers of cereals suffered a
severe drought in 1914 and 1915.
When the famine period ends and supply
and demand become more nearly normal, we
will be glad to have the trade of Mexico,
Cuba and our other wheat customers south
Of the border. Right now, they are joining
us in conserving wheat products, so that more
can move into famine areas in Europe and
Asia.
3. What is Argentina doing to help solve
the world food problem?
Ans-The Arpentine is one of the four