FOOD FOR HUNS VICTIMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 5

FOOD FOR HUNS VICTIMS

NEARLY 800,000 TONS DELIVERED

MR. HOOVER'S REPORT

Paris, March 13. Mr. Hoover, Aftsiican Pood Administrator and Director-General of Helief, has made the following statement on behalf of the Associated Governments:—

Some misapprehension seems to exist in England as to the progress made in the relief of the food situation in thosti ureas in Europe which have been liberated from German rule. Since my arrival in Europe and until the end of February tho following tonnages of food have been delivered in the following European ports for the relief of thess populations by various American agencies under my direction: Tons. Rotterdam <165),523 Copenhagen 7,610 Danzig ... 22,875 Trieste .... (i 11,762 Viume 12.9G2 Cattaro ... 601) Salonika ... . 2,9-iG Kagusa ... . 7,339 Constantinople S.SSB Constanza 18,719 Batoum ! 4,522 Derindjs (Asiatic Coast of the Sea of Marmora) 15,171 Antwerp i..f. 81,083 Dunkirk 34,493 Total 745,829 In addition there are also 288,000 tons now atloat under control of the American l'ood Administration destined I'ot these various ports. Of this total of over a million tons about 80 per cent, of the shipping has been provided by tho American Shipping Board, about 10 per cent, by the British Ministry of Shipping, and the remainder from various sources.

In addition to these American supplies the British Government have during this period provided about 9001) tons of breadstuffs ior Rumania. By joint action of the British, French, and Italian Governments. 24,000 tons taken from stocks Of Wain in Italy have been forwarded to Vienna. _ By various other Alliod efforW foodstuffs aggregating approximately 5000 tons have been distributed, and movements amounting to 12,000 tons havo been encouraged from neutral countries to distressed areas.

£51,000,000 Worth of Food. The total money - expenditure by the American Government on the above food stuffs amounts to somewhat ovor i!ol,000,000, and the monthly outlay w approximately These relief programmes are not as -large as necessity calls for, but they are as largo as the financial resources at my' disposal so far permit. The shortage of shipping and delay in the arrangements of finance have militated against the entrance of the British, French, and Italian Governments info the support of these programmes. However, recent actions taken in co-operation with their members on the Supreme Economic Council will tend to improve these matters. _ Foodstuffs ai;e arriving regularly and m increasing aniounts in Poland, CzechoSlovakia, Serbia, Jugo-Sl'avia, Rumania, Belgium, Finland, Turkey, Montenegro, and Austria, and to a minor extent in Hungary, and at other points. The difficulties of operating through many ports which have been uraotieally closed for four years, many without labour or facilities, ' the enormous breakdowns in inland transportation, and in some cases the necessity of traversing enemv country, and, above all, political difficiiltius have required a great amount of preliminary staff organisation and negotiation. On the whole the operations are as effective as could be expected in ■these times of almost economio and to some extent political chaos in- the countries concerned.

It litis been our view that we havo n vital' obligation first to succour the populations which have been under tho German heel, in order that we may not only amend to some extent the wid»spread suffering, but also give their rising Governments every encouragement. Viewing the food problems as a whole •-the. saving of the enemy as v well os the liberated countries—it appears vitally necessary to socuro a return of the populations to productivo labour at tho earliest possible moment. For, if wn compute the amounts of money required to enre for all the populations between now and next harvest the problem take? on dimensions beyond the abilities of tho Associated Governments to cope with— that is, unless the populations can quickly be restored to productive work. This feature of the stimulation of productions and exports is also being developed as rapidly ns possible. JJp'on its success the salvation of these portions of Europe depends. No great results in the way of a return to labour can be hoped for until pence is concluded, and every day's delay can well prive additional anxiety'as to success in the battle against famine.