Too Many Cooks
Throughout the four months in which the food .crisis has been publicly discussed The Spectator has consistently said that, although the problem is tangible enough, it contains an element of unreality. Superimposed on the real threat of mass famine is a thick layer of alarmist rumour reinforced by the portentous comings and goings of eminent persons. The intentions behind all this are no doubt excellent, but there is little evidence that they have done much to avert starvation in the danger areas. In this country they have become one more depressing item in what is universally recog- nised to be a monotonous diet. The main need has always been for a clear and agreed quantitative statement of requirements and supplies and an effective machine for distributing what we now have and increasing future production. None of these needs has yet been met, though the International Emergency Food Council of 20 nations, agreed upon in Washington last week, is the sort of body which could meet them. It will have to steer clear of the sort of development which began early in April with the British Govern- ment's offer to ration bread if the Americans would do likewise, and culminated this week in a completely unhelpful dispute
about what exactly was agreed during Mr. Morrison's recent visit to the United States. This sort of thing has no future in it. The time has come for a more realistic approach. Sit Ben Smith has gone. It is to be hoped that he is the final sacrifice to the cynical war-time theory that what the Ministry of Food needs is a figure- head of solid appearance to inspire confidence. The Ministry of Food, like the world food organisation, really needs an efficient head to a smooth running and unobtrusive organisation, and in Mr. John Strachey it is likely to get it.
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