865.5018/4–1847: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy
651. Urtel 864 Apr 18.1 Not found possible make diversions meet critical stock situation Italy early May. Felt here main Italian problem not one of allocation but of prompt movement quantities already allocated. Slipover from early US programs for Italy into Apr totalled about 150,000 tons.
In recent note Italian Emb to Dept request for 60,000 tons additional allocation flour made to help cover June consumption. Claim made that Italian crop not ready harvest before June 20 or 25 thus reducing prospective collections from new crop in June from 150,000 as originally estimated to 65,000, leaving supply inadequate meet ration. Emb requested comment on this claim.
Agri on May 2 allocated 20,000 tons semolina flour to Italy, a quantity representing month’s production this flour by US mills.
- In this telegram, not printed, Dunn reported that Italian food officials had stated that Italy’s cereal supply would be exhausted by May 10 unless there were unforeseen arrivals (865.5018/4–1847).↩