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265 #1213 HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE JULY 3, 1947 CONFIDENTIAL: The following statement by the President and the accompanying report to the President by the Cabinet Committee on World Food Programs MUST BE HELD IN STRICT CONFIDENCE UNTIL RELEASED. NOTE: Release is automatic for all newspapers, radió commentators and news broadcasters at 6:00 P.M., E.D.T. Saturday, July 5, 1947. PLEASE GUARD AGAINST PREMATURE PUBLICATION OR RADIO CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT TRUMANDAY NARA The Cabinet Committee on World Food Programs, which I appointed last Septenber to coordinate the activities of the United States in shipping food abroad, ha: submitted a report that should gratify every American. To meet urgent human needs abroad, nearly 18 million long tons of grai n and other food were exported by the United States in the year ending June 30, 1947. This is the largest total of food ever shipped from one country in a single year. Our country was blessed last year with the most bountiful harvest in our history. Our farmers worked hard to produce record crops The food industries, the railroads, the shipping companies, and the Government agencies cooperated to make possible the movement of food on schedule from American farms to foreign ports. But we must not lose sight of the fact that even the great efforts of this and other exporting countries fell short of meeting the world's urgent post-war needs for food. Many millions of people are still desperately hungry. The Cabinet Committee reports that crop prospects abroad have been reduced by the severe winter in Northern Europe, and that in the months ahead substantial shipments of food -- especially wheat -- must be continued. Within our ability to share our resources, we will continue to do our part to relieve human suffering and to help other countries to help themselves. It is th e course we must follow. The arrangements under which it was possible for us to ship such large quantities of food abroad are, therefore, being continued, I have asked the Cabinet Committee and the Coordinator of Emergency Export Programs to carry on for the coming year. The Assistant to the President will, as in the past, take all possible steps to help expedite this program. 049,9 (OVER)