Food in Perspective
The atmosphere of panic in which food questions have been discussed since January is at last clearing. The Commons debate which is due to take place as The Spectator goes to press may yet produce another display of fireworks, but this is becoming unlikely. The White Paper on the World Food Shortage which appeared on Tuesday at last provides a body of facts and figures by means of which some firm opinions can be formed and further shocks eliminated. It is by no means as informative as was hoped but it drives home the point •that the world food problem is incapable of a quick solution. The fall in wheat stocks in the four main export- ing countries from 45.5 million tons at the end of the 1942/43 season to a probable tr.r million at the end of the present season is not a situation which can be righted by mere redistribution. Mr. Bevin rightly referred to this point when he opened the conference of eigh- teen nations at Church House on Wednesday. A conference of this nature, concentrating on the long-term problems of world cereal supplies is precisely what is wanted. It can serve as a valuable preliminary to the larger gathering of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in Washington in May. In the meantime, British farmers and the Ministry of Food can do what lies in their power in the sober and responsible spirit characterising the international conferences. No more mistakes can be afforded. In particular it is to be hoped that the situation revealed by the White Paper in which wheat used for animal feeding in the United States rose from 3.3 million tons before the war to 7.4 million in 1944/45 will never happen again.
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