Evening star., 1946-11-24
Official Warns Lao
In Food, Coal Exports
Threatens u. N. Ties
By MoIeoIm Lomborne. Jr.

A State Department oficfal
warned last night that tagging
United States food shipments and
the abrupt termination of coal de-
liveries to needy countries are
threatening "the whole foundation
of our United Nations relationships. I"
The of1icial, who is in close touch
with foreign food problems, warned
further that a situation similar to
last springs food crisis may deyelop
In some European countries, par
t1cularly in the occupied zones, un-
less grain shipments from the
United States can be increased.
While inclined to less pessimis-
TIC view, Secretary of Agriculture
Anderson told reporter, I'VE rec
ognize the European situation is
somewhat serious"
Transportation Is Problem.
This time, the Secretary said, the
United States is in the fortunate
position of owning all the grain
necessary to meet objectives, but is
experiencing transportation difficult
ties. Last year, this country had
neither grain nor adequate trans
portation, he added.
Mr.. Anderson disclosed that East
Coast shipments of grain have
dropped to less than so per cent of
planned schedules and that a SINH
lar situation exists in the loading of
boxcars in the grain areas of the
country. On the Gulf Coast, daily
loadings are only one-eighth OF
what they should be, he said.
I'VE hope to catch up in January,
February and March, even if the
coal strike continues" the Secre-
tary commented.
State Department officials on the
other hand are reported to be deep
ly concerned over both the food
situation abroad and the problem
posed by the freezing of coal stocks
last week by the Solid Fuels Admin
istration.
Subcommittee Reactiviated.
Concern over the food situation Is
seen in the disclosure that q Cabi-
net subcommittee, formed earlier
this year at the outset of the famine
relief program, has been reactiv-
ated. 1t is composed of Mr.. Ander-
son, Secretary of Commerce Harri.
man and Undersecretary of State
Clayton.
According to a source close to the
group, the committee has been
meeting for several weeks to work
out a program that would avert
repetition of last springs crisis.
This source commented that the
foreign food situation already was
''nip-and-tuck" but that the walk
out of the miners now has thrown
q new monkey wrench into the
works"
No coal has been loaded for for
eign countries since the freeze, ex-
cept that already at shipside and
specifically earmarked for certain
ship. And officials see no hope of
any coal loading until the freeze
order Is lifted.
United States coal is highly es-
sential to the maintenance of nor
NAL conditions in Europe, but with
the halt of shipments there is mo
way Of telling what the permanent
damage will be-" the State DEPART
ment ofncial commented. - y Al
Shipments Slowed by Strike.
Before the strike. coal was load
ing for overseas at q rate of SOC, 900
tons for November, he said. The
recent maritime strike slowed ship
ments of both food and coal and
strenuous efforts were being made
up to the time of the coal stoppage-
to reach q 1000, ,000-ton a month
pace for coal, it was said. =.
The official pointed out that the
United States, United Kingdom and
French occupied zones of both Ger
many and Austria urgently need
more grain If authorities are to
maintain even a l,550-calories ra-
ton in those areas.
I'VE will not be able to reach even
that standard at the present rate"
he declared.
This official observed that it was
"pretty difficult for people of for
eign countries to understand why
we can't ship them grain when they
are ready, willing and able to pay
for It,"
AS matters stand now, he added,
we may fall down on our obligations
and at the same time threaten this
country's relation with U. N.
Grain Commitment.
He said the United States was
morally committed" to send 400
100000 bushels of all types of grain
abroad between July of this year
and June 80, 1947. "At. the present
rate of shipments, we will do ex-
tremely well to move 300, ,000,0 900
bushels, unless the coal strike is
ended and the transportation bottle
neck broken" the official declared.
Secretary Anderson believes that
even larger amounts of grain could
be spared for foreign countries If
it could be transported. From a
purely business standpoint, it would
be this country's advantage to find
a larger outlet for our grain sur
pluses, Mr.. Anderson indicated.
A threatened freight embargo, re-
ported under consideration by the
Office of Defense Transportation,
would strike another blow to the
grain shipment program, according
to the State Department source. Mr..
Anderson said, however, that ODT
Director j. Monroe johnson had
promised priorities on box cars.
Chester C. Davis, chairman of the
Famine Emergency Commi t e e
which spearheaded a belt-tightening
program in this country last spring,
conferred with Mr. Anderson last
week. 1t was understood that the
committee will continue on stand
by basis and not become active-at
least not at this time.
n. CI