Evening star., 1946-05-13
Food Rationiinq
NotNecessdrv,
Hoover Feels
Voluntary Measures
Will Give All Needed
Ex-President Says
By Malcolm Lomborne, Jr.

Herbert Hoover today reiter-
ated his belief that voluntary
conservation measures in the
United States will produce the
food needed for famine relief
and added that the world grain
deficit could be largely overcome
by further vigorous" steps by
surplus-producing countries.
Discussing with reporters his
globe -girdling food survey follow
ing a report to President Truman,
the former President indicated that
he was not in favor of food ration
ing. He asked, however, to be
allowed to keep out of the domestic
controversy" over this subject.
Simultaneous with Mr.. Hoover's
report on the world food shortage,
the White House announced that
he had accepted an invitation to
go to South America as Presi-
dent Truman's food ambassador"
to enlist the support of those coun-
tries in the food crisis
Herbert Morrison, lord president
of the British Council, also con-
ferred with the President on the
food situation, but told reporters
afterWard that report he was
asking the President to ration meats
and fats in this country was with
out foundation" He added: Any
idea of me telling the Americans
what they are going to ration and
what they are not going to ration
is not on my agenda."
To Take Necessary Steps.
Mr.. Morrison said he discussed
the whole famine situation with
Mr.. Truman ana that the two were
both equally determined to take
necessary steps"
On the results of his $4,000 mile
tour for the President, Mr.. Hoover
said he had found that overseas
cereal needs for the period of May l
to September 30 were considerably
smaller than had been previously
stated. He and his aides estimate
that minimum needs for this period
would be 14,484,0OG tons.
The expected supply for the May
September period he estimated at
l0,897 900 tons. Thus the gap in
supplies can be reduced to about
3,600,0 tons, as against an 11,000.-
000-ton deficit in the earlier ap-
praisals, Mr.. Hoover said.
He then pointed out that it might
be possible to reduce the 100000
/ ton deficit to about 1900 900 provid-
ing Russia, the United Kingdom,
Iraq and some other countries made
more grain available.
No Mass Starvation"
In reply to questions, Mr.. Hoover
said he had seen no evidence of
mass starvation but stressed that
stocks in famine areas are insuffi-
cient to last more than a month.
If supplies were to cease tomor-
row, We would have wholesale
starvation" he declared
The former President pointed out
that IF the world has good weather,
the food balance sheet will be
greatly shifted"
| Mr.. Hoover is expected to give
| the Nation a first-hand report on
his tour in a radio broadcast from
Chicago Friday
Earlier, Sterilization Director
Bowles was said by a close associate
to be prepared to ask the President
to resume rationing, including
bread, by August, unless the food
situation improves materially in
the next couple of weeks.
Big Mill Is Closed.
! Closing down of one of the Ma
tons biggest flour mills-Pillsbury'
"A mill at Minneapolis-adde i'm
petus to the growing demand for
rationing.
A committee of 100 prominent
Americans, headed by former
UNRRA Director Herbert H. Leh-
man, called over the week END for
more drastic measures, including
requisitioning of food stocks and ra-
tioning, in order to meet this coun-
try's commitments to supply food to
famine stricken countries.
The rationing question was first
raised by Mr. Bowles May 4, when
he told radio audience that he
felt Americans would agree to it. if
it became necessary.
Collection Drive Gains.
President Truman has said on a.
(See FOOD, Page A-6.l