Paris Peace Conf. 184.01102/326

Professor Philip M. Brown to Professor A. C. Coolidge 10

No. 22

Subject: Food situation.

1.
I desire to report concerning the food situation, as in the absence of a regular food representative here, I have considered it my duty to be of any service I could to Captain Gregory and Colonel Causey,11 with whom I have been in telephonic communication several times during the last week. They have been most active, as you know, in trying to remove all obstacles in the way of the delivery of the supplies of fat ordered and paid for [by] the Karolyi government. The first trainload, as you know, has been held up at Zagreb, at the instance of the French authorities at Belgrade, on account of the change of government here. I now understand that owing to the energetic action of these gentlemen and of Mr. Hoover and the personal interest of President Wilson, the prohibition on the shipment of these fats has been removed.
2.
I desire to state that although I have favored the sending of this supply of food on the ground of humanity, honor and sound policy, I have never intended to create the impression that the population of Budapest was actually starving, or even in desperate straits. The fact simply is that the population, normally well supplied with fats, has been deprived of this important nutritive element for some time, and is, accordingly, now feeling the deprivation keenly.
3.
On the matter of flour, I can say on good authority, that there is plenty of flour in the country districts, which however is jealously hoarded by the peasants, and is not available except through the agency of a vigorous military government, which does not of course exist at present. Budapest is said to have supplies of flour for four or five weeks longer. There are one or two mining districts where flour is said to be lacking. This will be looked into and reported on later.
4.
I am told that the peasants are failing to attend to their spring sowing, owing to questions regarding the division of land and political agitation. This, of course, would have most lamentable results for next winter.
5.
In regard to the policy of sending in food at this time, there are those of course who argue that it would be to strengthen the hands of the present revolutionary government, and enhance their prestige. Personally, I give little weight to this argument, as I am convinced that [Page 429] if done in the right way, the sending of this food will be interpreted by the Hungarian people as a welcome indication that the Entente is not animated by any feelings of malice or lack of consideration. The sending of food at this time, followed by a clear indication of the considerate, fair-minded attitude of the Entente to the people of Hungary, can not fail, in my opinion, to render the solution of this difficult political problem much easier. It must be remembered that the people of Hungary are simply dejected and despairing. They need to be encouraged and given faith in the future of their own beloved country.

Sincerely yours,

Philip Brown
  1. Transmitted to the Commission by Professor Coolidge under covering letter No. 200, April 7; received April 10.
  2. American members of the Interallied Commission on Relief of German Austria.