Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume III

861.5018/66: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) to the Secretary of State

[Extracts]

Kuibyshev (Moscow) November 17, 1942—10 p.m.
[Received November 19—5:52 a.m.]

471. Department’s 529, October 22, 9 p.m., to Kuibyshev.⁶³

1. There is no uniform ration scale for the whole Soviet Union. The food rationing system exists only in cities and towns. It is being extended, but had not reached all urban centers by the latter part of last summer.

2. There are in general five categories of persons on ration: (1) certain Government officials and manual workers engaged in war industry; (2) other manual workers; (3) office employees, teachers and so forth; (4) dependents of 12 years and above; (5) dependents below the age of 12. Foods usually rationed are (a) bread; (b) fats, including lard and vegetable oils; (c) meats, including fish; (d) sweets including sugar, candy, et cetera; (e) cereals including rice, macaroni and grits.

3. The rations in Moscow in grams are:

• Category 1: (a) 800; (b) 800; (c) 2200; (d) 500; (e) 2000. All figures given here and elsewhere unless otherwise indicated are monthly except for bread which is daily.
• Category 2: rations are identical with those of category 1 except that only 600 grams of bread are received.
• Category 3: (a) 500; (b) 400; (c) 1200, (d) 300; (e) 1500.
• Category 4: (a) 400; (b) 200; (c) 600; (d) 200; (e) 1000.
• Category 5: (a) 400; (b) 400; (c) 600; (d) 300; (e) 1200.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12. Although bread and cereal rations are usually issued in full, meat and butter are frequently unobtainable. Persons lower than category 2 received no fats in Moscow in September and many persons in Kuibyshev have not received meat or butter during the last 3 months. The rationing system in some localities is used as an instrument to stimulate production or to increase labor supply. In Archangel for instance ablebodied housewives are no longer rationed and in Moscow ablebodied adult dependents are now given no coupons for meat and fats. Rations are reduced also in certain places or industries for workers guilty of tardiness or of other breaches of labor discipline or of failure to fulfill norms. Extra rations are also given occasionally to workers [for?] excellency in skill or in quality or quantity of production or engaged in particularly arduous or dangerous labor. Pregnant women, those nursing babies, and blood donors also receive extra rations in certain localities. In Kuibyshev certain groups have been requested to donate 200 grams of rationed bread daily “to the Red Army.”

The extent to which full rations are received depends to an extent upon the efficiency and enterprise of the managers of the closed shops or restaurants. Those depending on the open shops are likely to be unable to obtain the full rations to which they are entitled. In Moscow it is more difficult to obtain foodstuffs from the open shops than it is in Kuibyshev. High officials of party and Government frequently receive food through special channels. In some places the rural population are better fed than the urbanites. In the middle Volga the farmers had more food last winter than the inhabitants of Kuibyshev. In the Vladivostok area the reverse is reported. The armed forces are in general just as well fed as and frequently better fed than civilians in category 1. The soldiers at the front receive more generous rations than those at the rear. It is clear therefore that the size of rations does not reflect average food consumption.

13. The most severe deficiency areas of the U.S.S.R. in grain are in northwest European Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Far East. Observers in the Far East report that the food shortage there is becoming serious and information from Archangel indicates that the population is becoming disgruntled at the lack of food and in some instances resorting to illegal methods including violence in order to satisfy hunger. It is believed that the shortages in some areas are due to faulty planning or the failure of the authorities to grant high transport priorities to foodstuffs destined for the civil population.

14. The urban population in general is suffering from undernourishment to such an extent as to hamper its normal capacity for work. The absence of a balanced diet is having ill effects even though for many years bread, which is the most plentiful food available, has been the staple diet of Russia. In our opinion unless considerable quantities of foodstuffs, particularly fats and sugar can be obtained from abroad the suffering in many districts will be severe and during the later part of the winter and the spring great numbers of persons will die as a result of undernourishment and the health of many more will be seriously impaired. We are inclined to believe, however, and to this General Faymonville agrees, that there will be no starvation conditions before the next harvest, if the program of food importation under Lend-Lease is accomplished successfully, if the authorities, in spite of the pressure which is being brought to bear on them, do not make any great increase in the rations, and if distribution is carefully planned and executed.

Henderson

63. Not printed; it was an urgent request by the Office of Lend-Lease Administration and the Office of Strategic Services for the material contained in this reply. The omitted sections 4 through 11 gave other ration figures applicable to Kuibyshev, Archangel, and Vladivostok, together with some special regulations governing milk distribution, and other details. Compare with the descriptions of conditions reported in documents on pp. 412, 421, and 441.