862.5018/5–1547
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Agriculture ( Anderson )
My Dear Mr. Secretary: In spite of the very excellent job which the Department of Agriculture has accomplished in procuring grain for export during this crop year, several areas of Europe are now facing grave food shortages. In the case of France and the U.S.-U.K. Zones of Germany the shortage of bread grains is so critical that political and economic chaos may soon develop unless the shortages are immediately relieved.
In the case of Germany the shortage of grain is so acute that the officials have not been able to meet even the very low ration of 1550 calories per day, and in France the bread ration has already been lowered from 300 grams to 250 grams per day although actual starvation conditions are not immediately threatening as is the case in Germany. It is equally important to this Government, however, that the food crises be alleviated in both areas, otherwise all of our recent efforts at Moscow might be lost in the political and economic upheavals that would undoubtedly develop.
Because of this situation I recommend that immediate action be taken to procure the additional quantities of grain in this country which will be necessary for shipment between now and June 30 to relieve the crises which are now threatening these two areas.
It is my understanding that an additional 150,000 tons of corn and 150,000 tons of wheat can be transported if the grain is procured in [Page 1150] the areas where transportation is not over-burdened. The French officials assure us that they will be willing to accept corn in place of wheat, whereas the two zones of Germany must have wheat.
I recognize the seriousness of additional procurement in the face of the present high prices in the grain market, but the situation outlined above is so urgent that even if direct purchases are required to secure the grain, I recommend that such purchases be made immediately.
Sincerely yours,