Evening star., 1947-09-26
The Food Emergency

PRESIDENT 1rumanS S statement ana the
report of his Cabinet Committee on World
Food Programs leave no room for doubt
that the problem of hunger abroad is even
worse now than last year. They make
clear, moreover. that the most important
single measure to be taken in meeting it is
that the American people resort to VOL
untary conservation" campaign under
which all of us would make a particular
point of being more selective" in buying
key foodstuffs, especially meat. Stated in
simpler words, what is needed is that we
eat things like choice beef bit less fire.
quently.
Many an American, psychologically,
worn down by more than two years of post
war emergencies. may be prone to resist
such an idea. Yet the fact is that we are
at a. point where self-restraint in our eat
ing habits during the weeks Immediately
ahead will be synonymous with the self
interest of every one of us. Humani-
tarianiSm aside-and this Nation would be
violating one of its finest traditions If it
neglected that-economic and political sta
bility abroad has direct bearing on our
own well being, but it cannot be built on
foundation of widespread hunger. Ac-
cordingly, to the extent that we act to
prevent such hunger, we shall be serving
ourselves. Over and above that, If we do
not act affirmatively, our currently in
f1ated food prices will almost certainly 60
higher and higher.
The situation Is bad today for several
reasons. First, storms, drought, early
frost and other harsh acts of nature have
hit overseas harvests so hard that the
food-deficit countries are substantially
worse off than they were year ago.
Second, while the demand abroad thus has
grown greater, adverse crop developments
in North America have decreased supplies
In the surplus producing countries
notably our supply of corn. Third, our
wheat has not suffered, but with our corn
short and its price very high, farmers will
be strongly tempted to feed more wheat
to livestock, instead of making it available
to humans in dire need of it. And fourth.
unless we reduce our extraordinary con-
sumption of choice beef and the like, the
farmers temptation will be harder than
ever to resist, and the combined domestic
and foreign demand for grain will be so
great that the hunger menace will be in
adequately met, and there will be more
imitation in our own country.
The problem, of course, calls for more
than self-rationing in relatively abundant
America. 1t calls for the full cooperation
of all nations, the needy and the surplus
producing ones alike. 1t may call, too, for
legislative action to limit the use of grain
by millerS, brewers, etc-a possibility the
President will discuss at his Monday emer-
gency meeting with congressional leaders
to weigh the advisability of a special ses-
sion of Congress on stopgap aid to cope
with the overall European situation.
which involves more than a critical food
shortage. But both he and his cabinet COM
mittee have emphasized that the immedi-
ate need is for national conservation
program designed to satisfy minimum
foreign requirements and "at the same
time relieve the upward pressure of prices
at home"
Since the revival of OPA seems admin
istratively and politically out of the ques-
ton, any effort at conservation will have
to be carried out on voluntary basis along
lines to be defined by the Presidents
newly appointed Citizens Food Commit
tee. What is necessary, above all, is a
Nationwide realization that the situation
abroad is urgent and that the individual
American has only to curb his appetite a
trlf1e to save lives and serve his own best
interests. The task of leadership now is
to drive that point home to every one.