Evening star., 1946-02-07
Truman Favors
Meat Rdtioning
If Necessary
Moy Be Required TO
Avert Starvation of
Millions Abroad
(Tert OF Truman Statement on
Page abb

MlIlI0nS ADfO0d
(Tert OF Truman Statement on
Page A-18.)
President Truman today ex-
pressed the belief that this coun-
try should return to meat ra-
tioning if that is necessary to
keep 12,000,000 or 100000 peo-
pie from starving, but he added
the hope that this would not be
called for if the packing indus
try-now in Government hands
as the result of labor troubles
continued to operate at capacity.
The President made his statement
at a news conference where he re-
viewed his order of yesterday cutting
down wheat consumption in this
country to relieve the critical food
shortage in Europe and the Far
East.
The Presidents food order also
disclosed that meats, fats and oils
are to be exported as part of the
American relief program.
Expects Public Cooperation.
The Presidents expression on meat
was prompted by reporters ques-
ton as to whether the country
might have to go back to rationing.
The Presidents statement yester-
day also called for food distributors
to engage in the voluntary ratiening
of scarce items, and on that point
the President explained that he ex-
pected people to cut down on their
buying. He added that he looked
for the public to cooperate in this.
President Truman said that
UNRRA will handle most of the dis
tribution of relief supplies. The
milling industry has been critical of
the Presidents plan to boost the
-four productivity of wheat from 70
to 80 per cent per bushel and a re-
porter, recalling this, told the Presi-
dent there were some rough spots in
the order and asked if they would
be worked out.
VyOA ooJNtt w AkCsAokVhs
President Truman said he would
not object to the order being made
more flexible and workable just so
long as the necessary wheat for ex-
port is obtained by this process,
which will result in the American
people eating darker bread.
Mr.. Truman read his statement
to his news conference detailing
the shortage of wheat and rice in
Europe and the Far East and he
said that more than 100,000,000
people will get some portion of the
food this country proposes to give
up.
He said American exports will
provide 50,000,000 people with a
diet of 1000 calories a day and 100,-
10000 people with 1000 calories a
day. In half of Europe today the
urban population is existing on less
than 1000 calories day compared
with an average of 5000 a day
in this country.
Defends Feeding Former Enemies.
The President defended his pro-
posal to send food to Germany and
Japan, saying that even while they
are responsible for their plight, we
cannot afford to permit them to
starve. 1t would not be possible to
do that, he added, and live accord
ing to our ideals.
Under the Presidents program, for
time at least, Americans actually
may eat better than ever before.
Their own bread will be dark, and
they may find less whisky and beer,
but there should be a temporary in
crease in pork, beef, poultry, eggs
and some dairy products.
How long this richer diet may last
hinges on the weather-Spring and
summer rains and fall frosts. For
bad crop season could well whittle
down supplies of animal products to
point where rationing again might
be necessary late in the year.
Flour Will Be Dark.
The cuts in American consump-
ton will take these forms:
l. Millers will be required to con-
vert larger portion of each bushel
of wheat into flour. This -four will
be dark in color, less tasty and less
suitable for cakes, pies and other
pastries. But it will take fewer
bushels of wheat to meet American
bread and pastry needs.
2 The use of wheat in making
whisky and beer. will be forbidden.
Also the use of other grains for these
beverages will be reduced. There
was no immediate indication what
effect this will have on current
supplies.
8. Farmers will be asked to feed
less wheat and other grains to live
stock. Mr.. Truman directed the
Agriculture Department to develop
programs designed to pare down
livestock production until grain
supplies become plentiful again.
61,000,0OO Bushel Deficit.
The presidential action was made
necessary largely by the fact that
Americans-and American livestock
have eaten more wheat since the
last harvest than the Government
had planned. This fact did not be-
come known until recently, however,
when Government survey showed
stocks to be 61,000,00O bushels below
what they should have been.
Now it is necessary for Americans
to make up as much of this 81 ,000,-
000-bushel deficit" as possible by
reducing consumption-if the coun-