Evening star., 1947-08-08
World Food Control
Extension for Year
Urged by u. n. Group
BY the Associated Press


Warning that world food
shortages will continue grim for
at least another year, the United
Nations food and agriculture or
ganization has urged extension
of the present system of dividing
scarce foods among needy ma
tionS.
That system, in which more than
80 nations are cooperating, places
control of world trade in foodstuffs
largely under governments rather
than commercial agencies. 1t will
expire December 81 unless extended
by action of participating govern
ments.
In report prepared for its annual
meeting convening in Geneva August
25, the FAC said last night that
hope of avoiding serious social and
political changes in Europe depends
largely on ability of cooperating
countries to meet minimum food
needs of the continent.
European Diets Cut.
The situation is so serious in Eu-
rope, the report said, that diets in
some areas. particularly Central and
Western Europe. will be lower next
year than this. In Asia, it said,
diets will remain at present near
starvation levels unless imports can
be increased,
"The issue Gn Europe is whether
or not 1918 witnesses drift to-
ward political disintegration or a
practical start along the hard road
to recovery" FAC said. "If the
deficit countries fail to get mini
mum supply of food, then the re-
percussions must be faced.
Goal production may decline fur
ther, a large part of industry may be
idle during the coming winter and
social unrest may spread through
the cities"
IF on the other hand, the Ma
tons severally and together can
take the necessary drastic action to
get food to where it is needed, then a
foundation is laid on which the
health and strength of the working
people can be rebuilt and industrial
recovery can go forward with assur-
ance"
May Shift Control.
The FAC said it's Geneva con-
ference may wish to consider pro-
posals that the task of allocating
scarce foods be shifted from the
present temporary International
Emergency Food Council to a perm
aren't food council of the FAC.
It said, too, that the conference
may consider plans for supplying
food deficit areas with larger guam
titles of fertilizers. seeds, machinery
and other materials so that they
might increase their own 1948 pro-
duction
Analysing the food outlook for
the year ahead, the FAC said output
between July, 1947, and June, 1948,
may be somewhat less than in the
previous IL months Although the
output of potatoes, sugar and fats
will probably be larger. and although
a modest increase In output of
livestock products may occur in
some areas, all this gain will be
Offset it said by a fall in cereals
production caused by adverse
weather, particularly in Europe.
The FAC said restoration of food
output to prewar levels is not
enough. 1t said world population is
increasing by 100000 to 100000
each year.
1t said there are two safety
valves" for relieving the growing
pressure of world population upon
the world food supply-Lating Amer
ica aad Africa. Both, it said, could
produce far in excess of their own
needs.
The world agency said a start is
being made with land settlement
programs and mechanical farming,
and it offered it's services in ex-
panding those programs.
The weak link in planning to
meet the overwhelming need for
greater production, both now and
in the, future, is the fear of sur
pluses," the report said.
The FAC said any international
programs for full production must
include some assurance of expand
ing markets and reasonable prices
If governments, business and farm
ers are to cooperate in carrying
than, n,,t