Evening star., 1946-04-25
We Can Prevent
This

By DAVIS kARsao and MARRY BARNARD

Despite its terrible vastness, the international
food problem, involving starvation for millions
can be understandably presented.
1t takes $500 calories Of food day to assure an
individuals health. Yet because of the effect Of
the war on manpower and farm equipment, to.
gether with crop failures, millions of Europeans
and Asatics face diet of less than 500 calories
in some areas below 900. This adds up to dis
ease, suffering, famine, death.
The danger areas are known Herbert Hoover
found that 100000 Polish children are under
nourished. An official group from India reported
that between 100000 to 100000 will die
there unless they obtain 1000 900 tons of wheat
and rice in the next IL months. In Germany, ra-
tons have been cut below 500 calories. In Italy
100000 mothers and children face starvation
In China and other parts of the Far East, there is
frightful shortage of wheat and rice
W. Can ssve Millions
Yet in certain favored lands, notably the United
States, the caoric intake, on the average is well
above 3, 3,50O-much more than health requires.
Spared the ravages of war, these lands have the
figure. Indeed, they enjoy the luxury of waste.***
An efficient reshuH1ing Of diet in the United
States alone would save more than 100, ,0OO, 900
persons from starvation. Another 100000, 900
could be saved by stepping up our production.
Almost many could be saved by the food we
waste. About 50O,OOO,oOO people - about one
quarter Of the entire population Of the gobe-face
IL l. Il
these people can be saved until their own produc.
tive capacity is restored.
Americas share in this responsibility calls for
the following program:
meat, oils, fats, butter and canned staple
goods Volantary abstinence is not enough. Food
sncc IN consumer channels is lost for relief par
poses.
. ESTABLISH top transportation priority, on
land and water, TO get food to the danger
senes.
Z ESTABLISH top priority on materials for
manufacturing farm equipment. recent De-
partment Of Agriculture survey showed that one
fourth of all American farm machinery should be
replaced.
A DECLARE an immediate moratorium on the
serving of food in night clubs, bars and the
Ike, and at public banquets.
Z IF NECESSARY, to crush the black market
and combat "foodleggers," let the govern.
nent do with food processing and distribution
what the late President Roosevelt did to meet the
bank crisis in l933-take over all such units then
let them operate (under private management on
the basis of permits. The permits should be issued
on the basis of rules the violation Of which would
bring penalties War powers exist to permit such
a step.
Politics Is to Blome
Why has such a program not been adopted'
Why was rationing ended with speed that out.
did even the Harding "normalcy?' The answer is
narrow politics and an underestimate on the part
of our leaders Of the real moral nature of Ameri.
cans
Some politicians have believed that Americans
are more interested in overflling their stomachs
than in creating decent world, more concerned
with self than with self.eseem This is an especial.
ly dangerous and stupid form of isolationism.
Americans have never failed to heed the cries
Of human suffering anywhere in the world. II y
We have but to existing governmental
machinery to get rationing going almost over.
night. ~
The shadows are gathering over Europe and
Asia. Children starving for want of bread Life
is at stake. So also is the moral leadership of de-
mocracy. From The Chicago Sum
Presented As A PUBLIC SERVICE b,
international. LATEx C0RPORATI0
PLAYTEx PARK \ DOVER, DELAWAR