Press Release, Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Charles Luckman

1392 435 IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 20, 1947 The Prosident today sent the following letter to the Honorable Charles Luckman, Chairman of the Citizens Food Committee, in reply to a letter from Mr. Luckman of the same date: Dear Mr. Luckman: Less than two months ago I appointed the Citizens Food Committed with you as Chairman, to advise on ways and means of carrying out the necessary conservation effort. At that time I asked your Committee "to develop plans for bringing the vital problem of food conservation to the attention of every American for action." In this very short period of time, the Citizens Food Committee has not only performed the planning task I set for it, but has, under your vigorous leadership, translated its plans into immediat and effective action. As a result, you now inform me that the grain conservation programs set in motion by the Committee, in cooperation wi th the Cabinet Food Committee, should result in a saving of considerable more than 100 million bushels of grain. RAUNDAY NARA In order to bring about this result in so short a time, you May and your staff have worked unceasingly, without regard to the clock or to your private business responsibilities. You have obtained the unstinting support of agriculture, business, labor and consumer organizations, and of the public, in furtherance of what has now become America's food con- servation campaign. These are splendid achievements. This food conservation campaign must continue. It must in fact be intensified, if we are to continue to save the utmost possible amount of grain that can be spared for the needs of hungry people overseas. I have told the Congress that the Government will intensify its efforts to obtain voluntary action, in order to enable us to extend aid to friendly nations and at the same time protect our own living standards. The voluntary efforts inaugurated by your Committee will continue to be necessary to supplement the program which I have asked the Congress to authorize. Consequently, the programs planned and put into effect by the Citizens Food Committee must be pushed forward throughout the coming winter and at least through the first half of noxt year. I call on the American people, the state and local committees, and all the organizations and groups, to continue their vigorous efforts in carrying out this program. To insure the continued succ es of the programs, I ask you and the Citizens Food Committee to continus on an advisory basis to give such counsel and assistance as may be necessary. Please convey to the members of the Citizens Food Committee, and to its staff, my doop appreciation of the excellent job that has been done. To you, personally, I express my sincere thanks for the un- selfish and untiring devotion whth which you have so ably performed a most difficult assignment. I ask that you continue as Chairman of the Citizens Food Advisory Committee so that your services will be avail- able to me on call for so long a period as may be necessary. Very sincerely yours, (Sgd ) HARRY S. TRUMAN The text of Mr. Luckman's letter to the President is as follows (OVER) al