FIGHT AGAINST FAMINE

Chronicle (Levin), 25 May 1946, Page 8

FIGHT AGAINST FAMINE

Press Assn.

MR. MORRISON TELLS OF TALKS IN U.S.A.

By Telegrajih

-Copyrirjht J 3*

LONDON, May 2:5. kepoiiing on liis food niission loj Aineiica in the House of Conimons ro-1, dny, yir. Ilerliert Morrison said, ".L told Prosident Trnnian • and the Ciin- J adian (.Jovernment that tliere is no i aspeet of British food and agriculture | with any bearing on the prevention of J fainine whkdi 1 was not willing to dis-j C'uss, with a view to their niaking criticism and snggestions. I made it plain that I eounted on th.ein to take the same attitude. "Botli Governments sh'owed themsolves aware of the need to raise the light against famino to tlre highest jiriorilv, and above all petty national ; pride. I wanted to lind wliether the j nations were dealing with fainine to thei bost of the abilitv of each nation. 1| received assurauces from the Pnited j Statcs and Canada that tliey were re- j oslved to work with us on this footiug. "Britain ean neither stand aside nor . bo asked to make disproportionate sacri- j lices. I sliowed that Britain had given ! the world a lead. Our agriculturists are doing wonders. Our eonsumers have ac- ; cepted more austerity for niore years, j and played the ganie better under a fair! rationing schenie. than anv otliers. We i ure in a starving world, and cannot , defend any policy exeept aid to the utmost of our abilitv. The present and past sacriOces have hurt, but they have given us a reniarkable degree of moral leadership. "The United States now felt ahle to associate itself with Britain in tlie task of supplying India and the British zone in Germany to the full extent of the availahle resources, and has instructea its representatives on the Combinea | Food Board accordingly." Xlr. Morrison said that as far as Ger- 1 niany was concerned, the United States' acgepted the proposition that tliere | should not be starving or underfed people in the British zone, side by side with an Americau zone getting assmed food supplies; but both zones shouhl work to the same standard rntion, anl have the same degree of assuranee that su])])lies would not suddenlv eiul. Whole Situation in a Hazard T'eferring to the deeision to redwe the import elaims by 200. 000 tons of wlieat, Mr. Morrison said: " We have not given up a tou which is here or 011 the wa.v here. Wliat we have done is to reduce that part of t he- elaims which is nilstandirig and not covered by sujiplies tnat we have acipiired or earmarked. Ti. is nevertheless a most hazardous step, hui the whole world food situation is a hazard. Britain 's hazard as an imporlor niiglit well have been increased catlier than diniinislied in tlie long ruu hy assuming a rigidly negative attitude 011 this critical oecasion. "The world uiust, by eoneerted nieasures and sacri lices, get 011 top of the famine, if the famine is not shortly to get 011 top of the, world. I make no j promises. but if further economies and \ sacri lices are neeessary, it will not be for vant of ailmiiiistrati v,e ingenuitv and ef'l'ort to avoid tlieiu. The lienehts from the wlieat import cut promise to be substantial. The TTnited States Administratioii has agreed, as a result, to ask for 'sacri lices. It regards criticisni in America against Britisli stocks as delinitely removed. "Americans are thoroughly aware oi the importance of diverting food to Europe, even if it upsets its own distribution and closes some flour mills. G'hanges of price make it more attractive for farmers to conserve grain for humans than to suppiy it for livestock. "The Uanadian (toveriiment has associated itself geue.rally with ,the Washington concTusions. ('anada's efforts to deliver wlieat liave been wonderful." "If my talks with the Governments are any guide, we are on the way to creating tlie same spirit of energy about food for winning the peace as we did for resources for winning the war. ' ' Iteplying to iMr. Ghurchill, Mr. Morrison said it might be embarrassing to British interests if he divulged the tonnage of American wlieat being diverted to the British zone in Germanv and to India; but the ligure for Germany was substantial. The American and Uanadian Governments had agreed to seeure shipmehts for India at a much higher rate than in any previous year. Mr. Churchill' s Attack Alr. Churchill said: "Your statemeut is a rigmarole. ' ' This drew shouts from Government members of: "Withdraw!" and "Play Ihe game. " Mr. Churchill added that Mr. Morrison 's statenient was " otTicialese, " i which was not meant to give anv information. IMr. ]\1 orrison repeated that it would not be in the interests of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealtli and Empire if he gave precise figures. He thonght Mr. Churchill was making party politics of a matter where they wero inappropriate. Mr. Churchill: "T might feol dismaved bv the remark if I valued Mr. Morrison. 's opinions. " Mr. Morrison, ueplying to a question, said it was inappropriate to say whe-

ther a further contribution eould be made by the rationing of bread.