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Part
II - Feeding the World
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The Allied victories in Europe and the Pacific
brought an end to war, but a crisis just as
horrible as the war gripped dozens of nations
during the winter of 1945 and 1946. Millions
of people living on the edge of starvation
looked to the United States for relief.
World
famine united Truman and Hoover in a practical
partnership. Truman needed advice and support
to devise a famine relief bill and steer
it through Congress. Out of public service
for a dozen years, Hoover was willing to
accept an appointment as honorary chairman
of the president's Famine Emergency Committee.
Widely credited with saving Europe from
starvation after World War I, Hoover brought
visibility to the food relief effort.
He
was no typical honorary chairman. At Truman's
request, the 71-year-old former president
traveled around the world compiling estimates
of the effects of famine and starvation.
Just as important, he raised the public
consciousness about the crisis not only
in the United States but also in each country
he visited.
After
his return, he consulted with the president
and agreed to a second trip -- this time
to potential food exporting countries in
Latin America. The former president was
tireless in his effort to find food for
starving millions. He even resolved to eat
"Argentine
dirt" if necessary to gain a portion
of that country's substantial grain surplus
Together
Hoover and Truman became co-leaders of the
fight against famine. The immenseness of
the crisis and the practical dispositions
of these two men led to one of the most
extraordinary partnerships in the history
of the American presidency.
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26.
NOTES OF A PHONE CALL FROM CLINTON P. ANDERSON
TO HOOVER, FEBRUARY 25, 1946
On
two occasions in February, once early in the month
and the second time on the twenty fifth, Secretary
of Agriculture Clinton P. Anderson telephoned
Hoover to seek his views on what could be done
to relieve the "world food panic," as
Anderson called it.
In
the first call Hoover encouraged Anderson to have
the president speak on the need for conservation
and establish a relief program. This Truman did
on February 6. Hoover also encouraged Anderson
to "seek from the President the powers that
would make him Food Administrator in fact."
In the second call, recorded in stenographic form
-- by Hoover's secretary, Anderson left a message
asking Hoover to serve as honorary chairman of
a famine emergency committee that would advise
the president. Anderson was so eager to have Hoover
on the committee and present at the committee's
first meeting on March 1 that he sent a plane
to Florida to bring Hoover to Washington on February
28. (This document is from the Hoover Papers in
the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.)
Craig,
Florida
February 25, 1946
Secretary
of Agriculture Clinton Anderson telephoned Mr.
Hoover this evening. Mr. Hoover was out fishing
so he gave to me the following message to relay
to Mr. Hoover.
. . . Mr. Anderson said they were very anxious
to have Mr. Hoover come to a meeting of this group
[Famine Emergency Committee] the end of this week
or on Monday or Tuesday of next; that they would
send a special plane -- land or amphibious --
to wherever he might be to take him to Washington
and to return him to Florida.
Mr.
Anderson said that Mr. Hoover had always been
very helpful to him, had given him the best advice
he had ever received last
July, and that everything Mr. H. had told him
at that time had worked out as HH had said it
would. Mr. Anderson did not "want to move
in this problem without Mr. Hoover's knowledge
and advice." This "was not a politically
cooked up arrangement, but they were solely interested
in conservation." Mr. Anderson said that
they were hoping Mr. Hoover would accept the Honorary
Chairmanship, but in any event they needed his
advice and that they did not want to "choose
the actual chairman who would do all the work
without Mr. Hoover's approval." . . .
27.
HOOVER TO ANDERSON, FEBRUARY 26, 1946
After
reading the message from Anderson, Hoover sent
him a telegram that reiterated many of the points
discussed earlier. Once again, he emphasized the
importance of the appointment of a national administrator
as well as the appointment of similar administrators
on state and county levels. He encouraged Anderson
to gather detailed information on how much was
needed, in what countries, and how much the United
States could spare without endangering public
health. He proposed that Anderson enlist all Americans
from food trade association executives to housewives
to participate in conservation. The text of the
telegram was released to the press on February
28. (This document is from the Hoover Papers in
the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Craig,
Florida
February 26, 1946
Honorable
Clinton Anderson
Secretary of Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.
I
have your message, and I would like to be of help
in any question of starving peoples.
I
recently issued a statement supporting President
Truman's call for conservation of food on the
assumption that desperate need had been established.
On
thinking the matter over I do not believe the
suggested general committee organization outside
of the government, though helpful, would cover
the whole emergency. I recommended to the President
last May that all control of food, scattered over
different
government agencies, should be lodged in you as
Food Administrator, because that office is inseparable
from the Secretaryship of Agriculture. I am advised
that this was not done. It should be done now.
In any event only an official of Cabinet rank
and an existing organization can create and direct
the quick campaign that is needed now because
shipments from the United States after the end
of June will be of no avail in this famine and
it is already very late to start.
In
order that there be no delay in giving you the
advice you request, I suggest steps in voluntary
organization as follows:
The
first step is for you as Food Administrator to
be given complete authority over elimination of
waste and unnecessary consumption, hoarding, substitution
of foods, and control of exports and imports.
The
second step in order to gear your organization
is to determine:
(A)
world need,
(B) world surpluses,
(C) possible American surpluses,
(D) what kind of food in all cases,
(E) how much of each kind of food you can and
should export from the United States without
injury to public health.
I
cannot adequately advise on this phase as it would
require exhaustive investigations at home and
abroad, and I assume you already have such information.
The
third step is to constitute the State Directors
of the Department of Agriculture as State Food
Administrators, and the County Agents as County
Food Administrators.
The
fourth step is for you to ask each of the food
trade associations, such as hotels, restaurants,
bakers, packers, millers, etc., to appoint emergency
famine committees under some respected leader,
they together with the experts of the Department
of Agriculture, to work out ways and methods of
voluntary action in each of their trades to save
waste, unnecessary use, to devise substitutes,
and to secure the adherence of the members of
the trades to this voluntary program.
The
fifth step is to prepare a simple program for
housewives which will eliminate waste, save unnecessary
consumption and
make use of substitutes. This should be a voluntary
program. Your State and County Food Administrators
should organize the women in their localities
and see that food trades are fully organized also.
All
this can be done by the present government agencies
without adding to personnel and does not require
the setting up of separate organization. It seems
to me that if the situation is urgent, as I believe
it is, then this is the only course to pursue
in order to get quick and effective results.
HERBERT
HOOVER
28.
TRUMAN STATEMENT, FEBRUARY 27, 1946
The
day after Hoover accepted the invitation to serve
on the famine emergency committee, Truman invited
a dozen distinguished citizens to meet with him
and Hoover at the White House on March 1. The
purpose was to discuss a program to encourage
private citizens to reduce their food consumption.
Little did Hoover realize that this meeting would
be the beginning of the busiest three months of
his life since he left the White House. (This
statement is in Public Papers of the Presidents:
Harry S. Truman, 1946 [Washington, D.C.,
1962], pp. 135-136.)
February
27, 1946
The
President last night sent the following telegram
to those whose names are listed below:
"I
am sure you are familiar with the acute need
for foodstuffs in the war-torn countries of
Europe and Asia. Our national self-respect and
our duties as human beings demands that we do
all possible to stop the spread of famine. I
have directed the agencies of government to
do everything possible to this end: But Government
alone is not enough. We cannot meet this situation
without an aggressive voluntary program on the
part of private citizens to reduce food consumption
in this country. I am asking you and a very
few other public spirited citizens to meet in
the East Wing of the White House at three o'clock,
Friday afternoon, March first, to work out means
for supporting such a voluntary program. Ex-President
Hoover has accepted my invitation and will be
there. I count on your support.
HARRY
S. TRUMAN"
The message was sent to: Mr. Sheldon Clark, Vice
Pres., Sinclair Oil Corp.; Mr. Justin Miller,
Pres., Nat'l Assn. of Broadcasters; Mr. Clarence
Francis, Chairman of Board, General Foods Corp.;
Dr. George H. Gallup, Young & Rubicam; Mr.
Henry R. Luce, Time & Life; Mr. James W. Young,
J. Walter Thompson Co.; Dr. William I. Myers,
Cornell University; Mr. Chester C. Davis, Washington,
D.C.; Mr. Eugene Meyer, Publisher, Washington
Post; Mrs. Anna Lord Strauss, Pres., League of
Women Voters; Mrs. Emily G. Dickinson, Pres.,
Federation of Women's Clubs; Mr. Eric Johnston,
Pres., U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
29.
STATEMENTS BY TRUMAN, HOOVER, ANDERSON, AND HENRY
A. WALLACE, MARCH 1, 1946
Hoover
arrived at the White House shortly before noon
on March 1 and spent thirty minutes in private
conversation with Truman. In An American Epic,
his memoirs of food relief activities, Hoover
recalled telling Truman that the world faced catastrophe.
"I said that the extent of salvation would
depend upon our securing the cooperation and coordination
of all the nations in the world to fight the famine,"
he noted. "I stated that I would restudy
the specific steps that could be taken and advise
him on what international machinery might be available
to manage the situation." Hoover agreed to
serve as honorary chairman of the Famine Emergency
Committee.
At
3:15 p.m., Truman and Hoover joined Anderson,
Secretary of Commerce Henry A. Wallace, and the
twelve distinguished citizens in a discussion
of the famine problem. "I told the group,"
Truman recalled in his memoirs, "that I thought
it was the most important meeting we had held
in the White House since I had become President."
The following statements to the press were intended
to show unity of purpose and firmness of resolve.
(This document is from the holdings of the Harry
S. Truman Library. Truman's statement is in Public
Papers of the Presidents: Harry S. Truman, 1946
[Washington, D.C., 1962], p.139.)
March
1, 1946
Remarks
of the President to the Members of the Food Conference,
East Wing Conference Room -- March 1, 1946, about
3:15 P.M., E.S.T.
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate very much your being
here today. We are in a very serious condition,
so far as world food consumption is concerned.
I sincerely believe that with your advice and
your help we will be able to work this program
out, so that the people who are now on the verge
of starvation may live through the next year.
It
is the most important meeting I think we have
held in the White House since I have been the
President.
I
particularly want to thank Mr. Hoover, and the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of
Commerce, and each one of you individually, for
coming here today to help on this program.
Thank
you very much.
HONORABLE
HERBERT HOOVER: Mr. President, the inevitable
aftermath of war is famine, and with famine civilization
itself is jeopardized. The last great reservoir
from which starvation can be halted is in the
United States.
There
is thrust upon us one of the greatest obligations
of these troubled years. It is my belief that
the American people will respond again, as they
did after the last war.
And
we cannot fail.
SECRETARY
OF AGRICULTURE ANDERSON: Mr. President, may I
too express my appreciation to Mr. Hoover for
coming here.
In
all the world there is no country so well equipped
as this to alleviate suffering next year from
the shortage of food.
We
have done a magnificent job thus far. We have
contributed millions of tons of food, but we have
not yet seen the job through. And I certainly
appeal to every American to do everything possible
in the way of personal sacrifice, to see to it
that millions now threatened with starvation do
not actually suffer, and do not actually die.
We have to strain ourselves a little more to make
that possible.
SECRETARY
OF COMMERCE WALLACE: Mr. President, the American
people, regardless of party or region or business,
once they learn the true facts of this situation
will take such action during the next six months
that they will not be ashamed of themselves a
year hence.
As Mr. Hoover has well expressed it, we all, regardless
of party, have faith in the American people.
30.
RICKARD DIARY, MARCH 2, 1946
His
meeting with the president and fellow committee
members to the contrary, Hoover had little confidence
that the food relief program would succeed. He
relayed that pessimism, as well as doubts about
the president, to Rickard the day after the meeting.
One reason for the former president's dour outlook
was that Chester Bowles, a Roosevelt administration
holdover who headed the Office of Price Administration,
would not relinquish control of food prices.
Saturday,
March 2 [1946]
See
H.H., who does not think much will come out of
his conference in Washington on Food Conservation.
Says President is really dumb, and does not seem
to grasp the vital points of any issue. He thinks
Davis and Anderson understand the situation, but
until Bowles will turn over the price control
on food products to one top food administrator
with full authority, nothing much can be accomplished
. . .
31.
JAMES F. BYRNES TO TRUMAN, MARCH 12, 1946
The
White House had originally intended to limit Hoover's
famine survey to the European countries best known
to the former president. Hoover was still a hero
in Belgium, France, Czechoslovakia and Poland,
and the administration believed that he could
renew old contacts to compile an accurate assessment
of famine in those countries. Just as important
was Truman's concern about the stamina of a 71
year-old man. It was best not to push him too
hard.
But
larger issues intervened. Once the Indian government
heard that Hoover was to do a European famine
survey, it petitioned the State Department to
expand the survey to include India and Asia. For
diplomatic as well as humanitarian reasons, the
State Department agreed. In a memorandum dated
March 12, Secretary of State James F. Byrnes explained
the Department's position. Truman concurred with
the decision in a memorandum dated March 13, adding
so long as "you think it would be helpful
and he [Hoover] can stand the trip." (This
document is from the holdings of the Harry S.
Truman Library.)
Department of State
Washington
March 12, 1946
MEMORANDUM
FOR THE PRESIDENT
Suggestion
that Mr. Hoover Include India in his Proposed
Food Survey Abroad
In
a conversation that took place on March 6, 1946
between the Under Secretary of State and Sir Ramaswami
Mudaliar, leader of the Indian Food Delegation
visiting this country, the latter alluded to Mr.
Hoover's impending visit to Europe to study the
food situation there and suggested that if Mr.
Hoover could include Asia and specifically India
in his itinerary, it might help to diminish the
impression reported to be current among Asiatics
that the United States was pre-occupied with the
European food shortage.
I
think that Sir Ramaswami's suggestion has merit.
To eliminate Asia from Mr. Hoover's itinerary
will probably have an adverse effect upon our
relations with those Asiatic countries facing
food shortages as severe if not more severe than
those of Europe.
You
may wish to discuss this matter with Mr. Hoover.
/s/JAMES
F. BYRNES
/s/Approved
HARRY S. TRUMAN
32.
RICKARD DIARY, MARCH 13, 1946
Hoover's
pessimism was not abated by his initial contacts
with members of the Truman administration. Once
again, he confided to his friend Edgar Rickard
that he had little confidence in Truman's ability
to lead the nation.
Wednesday,
March 13 [1946]
Spend
good part of day at Waldorf. H.H. has had good
opportunity past week in Washington contacting
the President and various members of the cabinet
and lesser officials concerning his mission abroad.
He says that he cannot believe this country ever
was governed by such a mediocre type of man. He
despairs of our ever accomplishing any constructive
policy either international or domestic . . .
33. HOOVER TO TRUMAN,
MARCH 13, 1946
The
establishment of the Famine Emergency Committee
with Hoover as its honorary chairman was an indirect
criticism of the work of the United Nations Relief
and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) directed
by former New York governor Herbert Lehman. Hoover
argued that famine relief could be accomplished
on a voluntary basis, whereas Lehman favored rationing.
When Truman accepted Hoover's plan, Lehman resigned.
Aware that he would need an ally and advocate
as head of UNRRA, Hoover proposed in a telegram
the appointment of his friend and associate Lewis
L. Strauss.
New
York, New York
March 13, 1946
President
Harry S. Truman
Washington, D.C.
I
suggest you consider Admiral Lewis Strauss to
succeed Governor Lehman. He was in the relief
organization in the last war and Secretary Forrestal
can tell you of his abilities.
HERBERT
HOOVER
34.
TRUMAN TO HOOVER, MARCH 15, 1946
The
president was quick to respond to the new chairman
of his Famine Emergency Committee on the matter
of a new director for UNRRA. He was polite but
circumspect in discussing the appointment with
Hoover. In the end, Truman selected the iconoclastic
former congressman and mayor of New York, Fiorello
La Guardia. There is no record of Hoover's reaction
to the appointment.
The
White House
Washington
March 15, 1946,
Dear
Mr. Hoover:
I
certainly appreciated very much your suggestion
of Admiral Lewis Strauss to succeed Governor Lehman.
I
think very highly of Admiral Strauss and have
had him work for me on one or two occasions.
I
am hoping that we can get the right man for a
successor to Governor Lehman.
Sincerely
yours,
/s/HARRY S. TRUMAN
35. HOOVER ADDRESS, MARCH
16, 1946
Hoover
took every opportunity to keep the famine crisis
before the American people. On March 14, over
the National Broadcasting Company network, he
called on the innate compassion of the nation.
"I can only appeal to your pity and your
mercy," he concluded. "I know that the
heart of the American people always responds with
kindness to suffering." Two days later, on
the eve of his trip, he repeated his message over
the American Broadcasting Company network. Hoover
outlined the purpose of the mission in this second
address. (The complete address is in Addresses
Upon the American Road, 1945-1948 (New York,
1949, pp. 169-171.)
HERBERT
HOOVER on WORLD FAMINE
ABC
-- New York -- 7:15 P.M., E.S.T., March 16, 1946
Two
weeks ago I was asked by President Truman and
Secretary of Agriculture Anderson to advise upon
what measures and what sort of organization should
be set up to cope with the famine which now stretches
over 500 million people abroad. I advised upon
the essential organization and the methods adapted
to this emergency. My recommendations were fully
stated in the press on February 26th. I do not
need to repeat that outline . . .
Now
that the work of the Emergency Food Administration
has been started, President Truman has asked me
to go on a mission to the countries where there
is danger of famine. I leave tomorrow morning
by plane. I am accompanied by a number of men
who were associated with me in relief and rehabilitation
during and after the first world war. Our purpose
is to study means and methods of making the available
food supplies in the world save the maximum number
of lives. And to present the situation as clearly
as we can to the President and to the American
people together with such advice as we can give
. . .
This
is an issue of religious faith and morals which
affects our country as a whole and each individual.
Saving of human life is a moral and spiritual
duty. If your neighbors and their children were
hungry, you would instantly invite them to a seat
at your table. These starving women and children
are in foreign countries, yet
they are hungry human beings -- and they are also
your neighbors. Could you not imagine one of these
helpless women or children as an invisible guest
at your table? By following the voluntary rules
for saving food you give life to that starving
person just as surely as if he sat at your table.
To
whatever extent we succeed in this task, we shall
have given that much health, courage and faith
to a despondent and discouraged world.
I
can only appeal to your pity and your mercy. I
know that the heart of the American people will
respond with kindliness to suffering. Will you
not take to your table an invisible guest?
36.
TRUMAN TO HOOVER, APRIL 18, 1946
Hoover
traveled 35,000 miles and visited twenty-two countries
in fifty-seven days. In each country he held a
press conference and broadcast a brief summary
of his findings. In all, he delivered twenty-four
addresses and conducted forty-two press conferences
in an attempt to increase public awareness of
people in need. He hoped that reports of his trip
in the United States would make Americans more
conscious of the need to conserve food.
In
spite of efforts by Hoover and the Famine Emergency
Committee during March and April, Truman was disappointed
in the response. He expressed his concern to Anderson,
Chester Davis, and a Hoover associate named Julius
Klein at a White House lunch on April 17. Truman
told Klein that he wanted Hoover to return to
the United States to make speeches and raise the
consciousness of the American people. Klein passed
this information on to Hoover's secretary, Bernice
Miller, who cabled Hoover in Cairo. Truman also
cabled Hoover the next day and asked him to return.
The
White House
Washington
April 18, 1946
Honorable
Herbert Hoover
Honorary Chairman
Famine Emergency Committee
c/o American Embassy
Cairo, Egypt
An
urgent need has developed in this country to bring
forcibly and dramatically to public attention,
as a spur to the food-for-
famine-effort, the facts about conditions in Europe
which your visit and inquiries have brought to
light.
Therefore,
I wish to suggest the advisability of your return
to the United States immediately after completion
of the engagement in Cairo, in order to bring
directly home to the American people your eye-witness
account of the necessity for greater assistance
from this country.
This
would make your trip to India, China and Japan,
by way of the United States.
The
Famine Emergency Committee in session yesterday
with representatives of the government departments
concerned, including the departments of state,
agriculture and commerce, felt that with only
seventy-five days left in the current phase of
the famine relief program, nothing should be left
undone that can increase public response in ways
to draw more wheat from the farms and to save
more food in homes and eating places. Arrangements
would be made for a large meeting in New York
City and for others elsewhere.
HARRY
S. TRUMAN
37.
HOOVER TO TRUMAN, APRIL 19, 1946
Even
though he agreed with Truman's desire to mobilize
the American people, Hoover thought that he could
accomplish more by continuing his trip rather
than returning to the United States. He called
Truman via transatlantic telephone on April 18
and they agreed he should broadcast a message
from Egypt and continue on to India and the Far
East. Hoover reiterated his reasoning and plans
in a cable to Truman on April 19.
Via
Eastern
Clear most immediate US Government message
To: Sec State Washington for President Truman
I
have your kind telegram. My strong view is however
that after the emphatic broadcast I will make
this evening on European situation it would be
very desirable for me to proceed India, China,
Japan, from whence I can present further picture
of whole famine problem. In general the Far East
needs cannot be disassociated from Europe and
on this route we may be able to stimulate further
supplies to Far East situations from Siamese and
Australian sources which must be urged. Also a
great hope has built up in the Far East areas
which will be greatly disappointed and good will
to the United States somewhat diminished if my
visit is delayed for a month as would be the case.
By going East I will arrive in San Francisco on
May ten and could appear at a meeting in Chicago
on May twelve with fresh material. It is my belief
Chicago is a better initial forum for our purposes
both in relation to farmers and consumers than
New York, which forum can be taken a few days
later. In any event if I return New York from
here I will arrive about April twenty-five, which
is only two weeks earlier than by completing the
survey as a whole. In discussing matter last night
with Mr. FitzGerald, Secretary Anderson agreed
continuation would be better. I will try to get
through on the telephone to you today about eleven
o'clock your time.
HOOVER
38.
TRUMAN ADDRESS, APRIL 19, 1946
At
precisely 7 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on all
four American radio networks and via short wave
around the world, Truman spoke on "behalf
of the starving millions of human beings all over
the world." After noting Hoover's work overseas,
he appealed to the American people to eat less
to save lives. In closing his four-minute address
the president was blunt: "The time for talk
has passed. The time for action is here."
(The address is in Public Papers of the Presidents:
Harry S. Truman, 1946 [Washington, D.C.,
1962], p. 215.)
GOOD
EVENING:
It
is my duty to join my voice with the voices of
humanity everywhere in behalf of the starving
millions of human beings all over the world. We
have a high responsibility, as Americans, to go
to their rescue.
I
appointed the Famine Emergency Committee to make
sure that we do all we can to help starving people.
We are particularly grateful to former President
Hoover for undertaking a survey of the situation
in Europe. The messages he has sent back have
driven home again and again the desperate plight
of the people over
there. We cannot doubt that at this moment, many
people in the famine-stricken homes of Europe
and Asia are dying of hunger.
America
is faced with a solemn obligation. Long ago we
promised to do our full part. Now we cannot ignore
the cry of hungry children. Surely we will not
turn our backs on the millions of human beings
begging for just a crust of bread. The warm heart
of America will respond to the greatest threat
of mass starvation in the history of mankind.
We
would not be Americans if we did not wish to share
our comparative plenty with suffering people.
I am sure I speak for every American when I say
the United States is determined to do everything
in its power to relieve the famine of half the
world.
The
United States Government is taking strong measures
to export during the first half of this year a
million tons of wheat a month for the starving
masses of Asia and Europe. Our reserve stocks
of wheat are low. We are going to whittle that
reserve even further.
America
cannot remain healthy and happy in the same world
where millions of human beings are starving. A
sound world order can never be built upon a foundation
of human misery.
I
am glad here and now to renew an appeal which
I made the other day. I said then that we would
all be better off, physically and spiritually,
if we ate less. And then on two days a week let
us reduce our food consumption to that of the
average person in the hungry lands.
Once
again I appeal to all Americans to sacrifice so
that others may live. Millions will surely die
unless we eat less. Again I strongly urge all
Americans to save bread and to conserve oils and
fats. These are the most essential weapons at
our disposal to fight famine abroad. Every slice
of bread, every ounce of fat and oil saved by
your voluntary sacrifice, will help keep starving
people alive.
By
our combined effort, we will reduce starvation
and, with God's help, we will avert the worst
of this plague of famine that follows in the wake
of war. I ask every American now to pledge himself
to share.
The
time for talk has passed. The time for action
is here.
39. HOOVER
ADDRESS, APRIL 19, 1946
Hoover
was allotted half of the thirty-minute broadcast
to inform the American people of the work of his
mission. Although he had been providing regular
reports to the media, Hoover believed that many
Americans were learning of world famine for the
first time. He was speaking to an audience of
tens of millions of Americans, an audience larger
than any he had spoken to since leaving the White
House. In the address, Hoover outlined a detailed
and specific course of action and closed with
an exhortation to the American people. (The complete
address is in Addresses Upon the American
Road, 1945-1948 [New York, 1949], pp. 193-198.)
Cairo,
Egypt
April 19, 1946
To
this great radio audience, I am giving you our
report from Cairo -- our report up to date on
the world food crisis and our recommendations
for its solution.
We
have now surveyed the food problem in seventeen
nations, to determine the minimum amounts required
to sustain life. We have indirectly established
the position of four others. It has been possible
to arrive quickly at sufficiently accurate conclusions
through the advance work of my able colleagues,
the representatives of our own government and
officials of the various nations visited and those
of the various relief organizations
Hunger
has placed three words every hour of the day on
the tongues of these 150 millions of people. The
first is "bread." Bread has a reality
as the symbol of life as never before in history.
It is now the symbol of the life of nations. To
reduce the bread ration is a symbol of calamity.
The second word is "fats;" for which
there is an insatiable craving and physical need.
The third word is "calories." That is
the common denominator. Calories are only a partial
yardstick of food, but that word has become everywhere
the grim measure of the steps along the road from
plenty to hunger and to starvation. Europe has
become a vast involuntary experimental laboratory
as to different levels of calories which the population
are to have in their rations . . .
If
every source of supplies will scrape the bottom
of the barrel, we can pull the world through this
most dangerous crisis. The saving of these human
lives is far more than an economic necessity to
the recovery of the world. It is more than even
the sole path to
order, to stability and to peace. Such action
marks the return of the lamp of compassion to
the world. And that is a part of the moral and
spiritual reconstruction of the world.
40.
HOOVER TO TRUMAN, APRIL 21, 1946
Several
days following the broadcast, Hoover sent Truman
an interim report on his mission. Most important,
Hoover noted, was the visibility the trip gave
to American relief efforts. Prior to the mission,
Hoover noted, "there was no account of America's
effort, and supplies were brazenly represented
as coming from other countries." Along with
his report Hoover included a cartoon from the
February 20, 1946 issue of Punch. The intent of
the drawing was to accuse the United States of
selfishness with the world's food supplies. Hoover
annotated the cartoon to indicate that the United
Kingdom (U.K.) had been selfish toward India.
(This document is from the Confidential File of
the Harry S. Truman Papers at the Harry S. Truman
Library.)
Shepheard's
Hotel
Cairo, Egypt
April 21st, 1946
My
dear Mr. President:
There
is little more to say about food questions than
we have already reported to the Secretary Anderson
and Mr. Chester Davis.
I
would like you to know, confidentially for yourself,
that a very active propaganda has been in course
to place upon the United States responsibility
for any failure in food supplies. Prior to our
visit there was no account of America's effort,
and supplies are brazenly represented as coming
from other countries. I enclose a typical document.
Everywhere
I have called in the local press and explained
that the major burden has been borne by the United
States; the nature of our effort; that we alone
cannot physically furnish their full needs, and
that they must seek cooperation of other nations.
One of the motivations of my broadcast from Cairo
rose from this condition of affairs.
I
shall be in Chicago for the meeting arranged for
May 13th and may perhaps have an opportunity to
see you in advance of it.
Sincerely,
/s/HERBERT HOOVER
41. HARRY S. TRUMAN TO HERBERT
HOOVER, MAY 4, 1946
As
the Hoover mission was completing its survey of
food conditions in the Far East, Truman cabled
Hoover and asked him to meet with Ambassador Edwin
W. Pauley and brief him on the food situation
in Japan and Manchuria. Truman hoped that Hoover's
information would be of value to Pauley in the
handling of reparations problems in those countries.
Hoover cabled his agreement on May 6.
SECRET
From: Amconsul, Shanghai
To: Amconsul, Tokyo
May
4, 1946
Following
received for Herbert Hoover from President Truman:
"Ambassador
Edwin William Pauley, my personal representative
on reparations matter, is enroute to Tokyo and
Manchuria. It occurs that there is a possibility
that food condition in the Far East can be greatly
improved by an intelligent handling of reparations
problems, particularly if treatment of reparations
directed toward creation of basic sound agricultural
and industrial economics of countries of East
Asia. Accordingly, if it is convenient for you,
suggest your meeting with Pauley while you are
still in Pacific Area, so he may have benefit
of your counsel. Pauley will be in Honolulu May
7 and Tokyo May 9. Selection of time and place
of meeting is wholly in your hands and at your
convenience. Please advise me as soon as possible
if your itinerary will permit meeting.
HARRY
S. TRUMAN"
42.
TRUMAN TO HOOVER, MAY 7, 1946
At
the close of his mission Hoover received an "eyes
only-secret" cable from the president responding
to his report of April 21. Noting agreement with
Hoover's assessment of anti-American propaganda,
Truman also made a special effort to thank Hoover
for the work of his mission.
The
White House
Washington
May 7, 1946
My
dear Mr. Hoover:
I
greatly appreciate your letter of April 21 in
which you enclosed an example of the typical propaganda
being circulated concerning America's effort in
supplying the deficit areas with food.
Throughout
the war we were continually aware of similar propaganda
programs generally designed to place the blame
upon the United States for any failure by the
allied forces to provide adequate supplies to
the civilian populations as they were liberated.
Although
much progress has been made in our efforts to
counteract
the effects of such propaganda, it is recognized
that we have barely scratched the surface.
I
want to thank you personally for the excellent
manner in which you have met this particular problem,
and the direct manner in which you have given
account of America's effort to supply food to
the areas which you have visited.
I
am looking forward to talking with you at length
and receiving the benefit of your analysis and
recommendations concerning the problems which
this government must face in the world food crisis.
Although adequate expression of my appreciation
of the great service which you have rendered on
this mission cannot be conveyed in a letter, I
cannot miss this opportunity of expressing my
personal thanks to you. I fully recognize the
personal sacrifice and risk which you have taken
in taking such a hazardous journey, but the excellent
results which you have obtained will be of inestimable
value to this country in assuming its responsibilities
of solving the world food problem.
Sincerely
yours,
/s/HARRY S. TRUMAN
43.
HOOVER NOTES OF MEETING WITH EDWIN W. PAULEY,
MAY 8, 1946
Hoover
cabled Pauley on May 5 and arranged to meet him
in Honolulu on May 8. As was his custom with many
such meetings, Hoover dictated a memorandum for
the record. Of note is Hoover's strong stand against
any further damage to the Japanese economy. A
strong economy, Hoover noted, would not only stave
off famine, it also would help "to develop
a protection against the spread of Communism over
the whole of Asia."
Honolulu
May 7-8, 1946
I
received a wire from Truman asking if I would
arrange a meeting with Edwin Pauley who was en
route across the Pacific as head of the Japanese
reparations Commission and give to him my impressions
and views on Asiatic questions. We arranged to
meet in Honolulu and spent three hours together.
I took a strong line against the destruction and
limitations on Japanese economy, pointing to their
necessity to export to but food or that we would
be perpetually saving them from famine and especially
that here we had an opportunity to develop a protection
against the spread of Communism over the whole
of Asia, etc.
Pauley
finally apparently came to my view and said that
the proposals and plans of his commission must
be greatly modified. He asked if I thought MacArthur
would agree. I suggested that with his own powers
of persuasion, he ought to be able to accomplish
that, especially if Truman backed him.
After
leaving, I sent MacArthur a telegram summarizing
the conversation and suggested that he should
take the attitude that Pauley had converted him.
44.
HOOVER, ET AL. TO TRUMAN, MAY 13, 1946
When
Herbert Hoover and his colleagues delivered their
final report on their world famine survey to the
president, no one was surprised at the contents.
But the urgency of the problems was clear. Hoover
put emphasis on the need for cereals, particularly
wheat and rice. The bulk of the report was a statistical
breakdown of nations in need and nations with
surplus. (The complete text is in Addresses
Upon the American Road, 1945-1948 [New York,
1949], pp. 210-220.)
Washington,
D.C.
May 13, 1946
Dear
Mr. President:
We
have completed your instructions to survey the
principal nations affected by food shortages which
have resulted, or may result, in widespread famine;
to evaluate the minimum needs of these areas until
the next harvest; and to discover such additional
food resources as possible. In accordance with
your instructions, we have also presented the
American point of view on the food problem to
these nations and the interest and understanding
of our people in their plight. Finally, we have
constantly advised American officials and the
American public as to the situation as we found
it.
We
have traveled some 35,000 miles, visited twenty-two
countries which have a deficiency of food, and
informed ourselves of the situation in several
others. The only country of large reported deficiency
we did not visit was the Union of South Africa.
We
visited five self-sufficient or surplus countries
and informed ourselves of the situation in other
consequential surplus nations.
The
dominant need of the world in this crisis is cereals,
particularly wheat and rice. There is great need
of fats and special food for children, but as
cereals can furnish 85 per cent of an emergency
diet, we considered cereal requirements were the
first concern, and the best indicator. If a foundation
of bread can be assured, and as much fats and
children's food as possible, mass starvation can
be prevented.
At
the time of our departure, the Combined Food Board's
estimate of the available cereal supplies from
surplus countries showed a deficit as compared
with stated requirements of 11,000,000 tons, or
43 per cent . . .
Supplies
We
have found increases in supplies possible during
the crisis through development of certain new
sources of supply; through additional loans of
cereals from early-crop countries which may not
themselves have annual surpluses; through substitution
of other cereals for wheat and rice; and as a
result of conservation up to this time . . .
We
are confident that if until the end of August,
there can be further vigorous conservation in
surplus countries, mainly wheats and fats, and
more energetic cooperation between nations, the
remaining deficit can be largely overcome. The
cooperation of Russia and the Latin American States
would greatly aid in meeting the problem. If,
however, mass starvation is to be prevented it
will require constant effort.
It
is of interest to note that the quantities which
are provided by UNRRA as charity comprise about
20 per cent of the world's cereal needs, whereas
nations representing 80 per cent are being financed
by the importing countries themselves. But the
need in these latter is no less urgent.
You
will recognize that these statements are estimates.
They, however, comprise a reasonable basis upon
which to formulate policies . . .
Yours
faithfully,
| /s/
HERBERT HOOVER |
/s/ W. HALLAM TUCK
|
| /s/
D. A. FITZGERALD |
| | 
