Cabinet Meeting Minutes

(From Notebook 5) NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE CABINET MEETING, FRI DAY, JANUARY 16, 1948 10:00 THE PRESIDENT Wants to keep food conservation program rolling. Will wait for Anderson who was not present at opening of Cabinet. Asked Harriman to discuss foreign trade problems. HARRIMAN Stressed importance of getting food & other commodities out of Russia and satellites in exchange for our exports. They are now paying in gold and using food etc for political purposes elsewhere. THE PRESIDENT Asked Interior to tell what is being done in oil conservation. KRUG It is essential to restrict use of fuel oil - and maybe gasoline. We are in a serious situation. Army & Navy installations should convert to coal. We may have to go back to rationing - if Congress approves. Our use is about 5 million brls a day. We are exporting 450,000 brls per day or about 1/8th of our total output. We should go ahead on synthetic fuel program. Industry will not do it so govt should build a couple of plants to get program underway. MARSHALL Wants to see further action in South America - but it has to be done in a way which will not give advantage to demagogues who are out of power. It is a touchy political question in those countries. THE PRESIDENT Told Krug to organize Cabinet Committee to see what can be done. MARSHALL Gave brief report on European situation.