Paris Peace Conf. 103.97/16a: Telegram
The Food Administrator (Hoover) to the Acting Food Administrator (Richard)
40. Will you release following to press as a statement by the Washington office.
Mr. Hoover has, with the authority of the President, strongly urged upon the Allied Governments the removal of the restrictions upon the shipments of pork products and condensed milk to all European neutrals including Norway, Sweden, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland. The production of these commodities in the United States promises—for the months of January and February—to rise to a volume greater than the needs of the Allies and those of the newly liberated territories such as Belgium, Northern France, Northern Italy, etc.
[Page 775]To secure the rapid disentanglement of the European Food situation, Mr. Hoover is proposing that the surplus should be divided over the European neutral countries at once. These countries have, for shipping and other reasons, been under stringent restrictions by the Allied Governments.
In order that conditions may be brought to normal as rapidly as possible he is proposing that normal trade be allowed to proceed in these commodities for the present. It is probable that later in the spring the seasonal decrease in production may necessitate return to rationing all countries, but for the present supplies are ample and storage in the United States insufficient to carry over the surplus.
Mr. Hurley has given directions that the Neutrals who have insufficient shipping of their own to carry these products should be assisted by the United States Shipping Board.