PROGRAM OF IMPORTATIONS
1. The First Year. November 1914-October 1915
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DOCUMENT NO. 64 Telegram,(38)
FRANCQUI TO HOOVER giving preliminary estimate of necessary monthly importations for Belgium
BRUSSELS, 26 October 1914 HOOVER, LONDON
Monthly needs Belgian population, minimum 60,000 tons wheat, 15,000 tons maize, 3,000 tons rice and dried peas.
FRANCQUI .
The above estimate (which Hoover had asked Francqui to prepare) of a minimum monthly importation of 78,000 tons of cereals constituted the first paper program which the Commission attempted to realize after the first emergency .supplies were rushed into Belgium. The need of a definite program in place of the inevitably haphazard methods of the first days of relief was obvious, but the obstacles to the realization of that program were enormous. First there was the matter of finance.
This is treated in detail in a later chapter;(39) here it is sufficient to note that the resources in sight consisted of £100,000 provided by the British Government the hope (eventually realized) of a loan from Belgian bankers of £600,000 which Francqui and his associates were attempting to arrange; and charitable
contributions (extent unknown) which appeals to the world might produce. The response to these appeals was generous but quite inadequate to meet the program.
Supplementary purchases had to be made, and funds for this purpose and to pay transportation charges on gift supplies had to be found. All monies in hand were quickly used up and Hoover assumed personal liabilities for large sums to meet this emergency. Needless to say, because of these difficulties and the reluctance of the British Government in view of Great Britain's food position to permit the
Commission to buy supplies in England or cargoes en route there, the importations during November and December 1914 were far below the program. A timely cargo of miscellaneous foodstuffs from Nova Scotia, a group of cargoes financed by the Rockefeller Foundation, a small but invaluable loan of flour from the Dutch Government and a similar loan of Canadian wheat received from the British
Government brought the total of food delivered by the Commission at Rotterdam by the end of December to 79,000 tons valued at $4,500,000.(40)
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DOCUMENT NO. 65 Memorandum,(41)
BY SIR EDWARD GREY, relative to C.R.B. export permits, purchases, etc., with comments by W. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade
LONDON, 25 October 1914
The American Ambassador informs me today that the American, Spanish, and Belgian Committee, assuming that a permit to let food supplies go to Belgium would allow them to export food from here, and knowing that the need is great, have already purchased £30,000 of foodstuffs and chartered a Dutch ship to convey them to Rotterdam. They now find that the export from this country is prohibited.
(We can agree to this. License must be issued at once. W.R.[42])
They would be quite willing to replace these foodstuffs by others, imported subsequently.
(Note this. W.R.)
There are cargoes of wheat now on the Atlantic, on their way to British merchants.
Would the Committee be permitted to buy any of these cargoes and divert them to Rotterdam, without their being brought here at all?
(We deprecate this. W.R.)
There are cargoes of rice from India to Great Britain destined for the United States.
Might the Committee buy some of these which are now on their way, and send them to Rotterdam instead of to the United States?
(Those cargoes actually consigned to U.S.A. can go to Rotterdam. We should be given the names. W.R.)
There is no large amount of food to be bought in Holland.
The Ambassador asks whether, when food is imported subsequently from the United States for the Belgian population, the food may bestored in
warehouseshere?
(We would certainly not object. W.R.)
The Committee would propose to send it only in small quantities to Belgium; so that, should the Germans, in spite of the assurance of the German Commander, confiscate any of this food, they would be able to detain the bulk of it here at any time.
The American organisations and some wealthy men are anxious to send food to Belgium, and have already sent £12,000 here to be used for this purpose. The American Ambassador will tell them not to send money in future, but to despatch food direct from the United States.
(Much better. W.R.)
He asks whether it could not be sent in British ships from the United States, as well as in neutral ships?
I have told him that with the Germans at Ostend, I doubt whether we would insure British ships on the way to Rotterdam; a British ship might be captured by the Germans.
(She could not come within our Insurance cover, but if she were covered separately at New York or at Lloyds against War Risk, British ships would no doubt be
obtainable. W.R.) .
DOCUMENT NO. 66 Letter,
FRANCQUI TO HOOVER, stating increase in imports required to meet the growing needs of the Belgian population
BRUSSELS, 2 March 1915 MY DEAR MR. HOOVER:
I have had occasion on various opportunities to impart to the Commission for
Relief in Belgium the increasing need of our people. The monthly consignments are hardly sufficient to satisfy the demands of our Provincial Committees.
I therefore allow myself to suggest that you should make new efforts with a view to increasing the tonnage of the imports, following the indications below:
1) Wheat and flour. The consignments should continue in the existing proportions, which are a strict minimum (60,000 tons a month).
2) Lard and bacon. It is necessary to buy about 1,000 tons a month (500 tons bacon and 500 lard). Under the circumstances the National Committee does not keep to the limit of a price of 1.90 frs. to 2.00 fixed previously, but it asks that you should buy under the best conditions.
3) Rice. Besides the usual arrivals, it would be desirable to receive a large boatload of this product at the end of May and again at the end of June.
4) Peas and beans. It will be necessary to continue the imports in the existing proportions.
5) Maize. If it is possible, it would be desirable to purchase more maize before the next harvest, and above all white maize which will give white flour; if this is not possible, to take some measures to import a sufficiently large quantity of this product, until the beginning of the next harvest.
6) Potatoes. The National Committee will take as much as you can send until the beginning of the next harvest, say the end of July.
Failing fresh potatoes, the Committee asks you to buy dried potatoes and potato flour. I confirm this request; but I should be glad to know what are the prices of these products. The Provincial Committees praise the qualities of dried potatoes to me, but as the quantity put at their disposal came from gifts, I have no idea of their price.
7) Salt and dried fish. I requested the Rotterdam office to buy salt and smoked fish, and as a trial to make a special consignment for Hainaut. If this first experiment is a success, the National Committee will want other large quantities of these products.
One could perhaps buy it, instead of in Holland, in Norway or Sweden, or Scotland.
I wish to draw your attention particularly to this kind of food, which is one of the most nutritive of common foods.
8) Meats. The Provincial Committees insist on receiving meat at reasonable prices.
Failing a proper means of transportation, the importation of frozen meat is impossible unless your London Office could charter a special boat as far as Brussels, a boat which would at the same time serve Antwerp. But, even in this case, the rest of the country could not be supplied with frozen meat. In any case, I think it necessary to ask you to order some American salt meat. They mention particularly meat in casks, as being possible to deliver at very low prices. It should be understood, however, that I place no limit for the present, either on the kind of meat or the quantity ordered, so long as the prices are advantageous. It would be best to buy, as is best for the interests of the Provincial Committees, such salted meats as you would judge would suit our people best.
I know, dear Mr. Hoover, that you will consider this question with the same activity and untiring devotion, which you have proved to us so often; and thanking you once more, I beg to remain.
&c &c &c
(Signed) E. FRANCQUI [Translation]
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This request for an increased program of importation including supplies of new categories such as fats, meats, potatoes, et cetera put a new strain on the financial resources of the Commission, to which in April was added the additional
requirement of from 15,000 to 18,000 tons for the 2,000,000 people in occupied French territories.(43) At the same time the contributions in kind, which had
provided for nearly one-fourth of the imports, could no longer be depended upon to provide for this proportion of the needs. Fortunately the negotiations for
government subsidies were successfully concluded in February. But even before he was certain of success in these negotiations, Hoover had increased the
Commission's purchases in anticipation of the new requirements. The Commission was able, therefore, to deliver 110,000 tons of supplies at Rotterdam in April and to maintain during May and June monthly deliveries of 100,000 tons and thus provide for the French territories without reducing the deliveries to Belgium.
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DOCUMENT NO. 67 Telegram,
HOOVER TO C.R.B. REPRESENTATIVE IN PARIS, stating monthly food requirements of population in Northern France
LONDON, 15 March 1915 GIFFORD PINCHOT
AMERICAN EMBASSY, PARIS
Studies of our people indicate we could handle two million French people on supply of thirteen thousand tons wheat, twelve hundred tons beans, five hundred tons bacon, twelve hundred tons rice per month. This implies smaller ration than Belgium and could be managed on subsidy of three hundred thousand pounds per month. We can probably procure enough supplies here in addition to what we have now available; therefore what we want is this money, and in view of critical
condition cereal market we should have the money placed at our disposal at once so
as to be able to procure and pay for three months' supply and thereafter three hundred thousand pounds per month in order to provide for the third month
forward, this system to continue until we have provided for month of July, that is, March, April, May, June, July, five months, making total one and half million pounds. We have during last two months and in continuance of our work during March depleted our Belgian supplies by an amount equal to three hundred thousand pounds, which I therefore include in above budget, this sum in respect of March.
HOOVER .
DOCUMENT NO. 68 Memorandum,(44)
By HOOVER, setting out program of imports to the harvest BRUSSELS, 21 June 1915
It has been decided by the C.N. and the C.R.B. that, in order to substantially provision the civil population with the minimum of absolute necessities, and to properly regulate the shipments of imported foodstuffs into Belgium, the following course shall be pursued until it shall be altered by general agreement:
1. That in future, the import of foodstuffs into Belgium shall be confined to the following commodities:
Wheat or flour Rice
Peas and beans Lard
Bacon Maize
2. In the matter of flour it is considered that the consumption until harvest is about 50,000 tons per month or about 55,000 tons of wheat.
The stocks of flour (or wheat in terms of 90 per cent flour) are, on the 1st of June:
In Belgium 65,000 tons Transit and
Rotterdam
161,000 tons 226,000
tons Reserved for
France
49,000 tons
(3 1/2 months) 177,000
tons
(3 1/2 months)
It is considered that, as the harvest will be available in September, an additional purchase of 12,000 tons will be sufficient until October 1st.
That in the matter of the ratio of wheat to flour, the cities of Antwerp and Brussels shall be provided with white flour, until the whole of the present purchases are exhausted, and unless three months' notice is given to the contrary, the Commission will then proceed to supply Brussels and Antwerp with wheat.
3. In the matter of rice, it is agreed that the apparent consumption is at the rate of about 2,500 tons per month, but that it is likely to increase and therefore a supply of 5,000 tons per month is contemplated. The stocks on June 1st are apparently as follows:
In Belgium 6,000 tons In transit and
Rotterdam
30,000 tons 36,000 tons Reserved for
France
7,500 tons
(5 months) 28,500
tons
(5 1/2 months' supply, or sufficient until the end of October.)
4. In the matter of peas and beans, it is agreed that the consumption in Belgium is under 4,000 tons per month. It is found that the stocks as at June 1st are as follows:
In Belgium 17,000 tons In transit and
Rotterdam
7,000 tons
24,000 tons Reserved for
France
7,000 tons
(5 months) 17,000
tons
(probably sufficient until January 1st.)
It is considered there is likely to be little demand in Belgium owing to the local production, and therefore no further engagements should be made.
5. In the matter of bacon, it is decided that in the future this commodity should be purchased for its meat value (i.e. lean sides), and therefore the best average quality is wanted.
It is considered that the Belgian consumption is 1,500 tons per month.
The stocks at June 1st are roughly estimated as follows:
Belgium 1,600 tons Transit and
Rotterdam
7,000 tons 8,600 tons Reserved for
France
3,000 tons
(3 months) Belgium
balance
5,600 tons
(4 mos., less 400 tons)
It is noted that of the purchases already made, a considerable portion are fat backs, but no more of these are to be purchased. It is observed that hereafter all prices should be taken at net weights.
6. In the matter of lard, it is believed that it is unwise to purchase substitutes, and that only pure lard in tins of various sizes should be purchased.
It is considered that the consumption in Belgium is about 750 tons per month. The stocks at June 1st are estimated about as follows:
In Belgium 1,000
tons In transit and
Rotterdam
3,000 tons 4,000 tons Reserved for
France
1,500 tons
(3 months) 2,500
tons
(3 1/2 months)
It is observed that hereafter all transactions should take place innet weights.
7. In the matter of maize, it is considered that the present purchases will last until September 1st; that 20,000 tons should be averaged for September; the whole subject to be taken up later.
8. As it is absolutely necessary that the stocks of imported foodstuffs in Belgium should not exceed a 30 days' supply, it is imperative that there shall be a competent stock-taking of all the warehouses at the end of every month, and that these results should be in the hands of the Brussels office by the fifth day of the succeeding month. Rotterdam can then be advised as to the amount of the different
commodities which should be consigned to the different provinces or shipping destinations in order to supply the consumption during the month and to leave the warehouses at the end of the month supplied with approximately one month's supplies.
9. In order that the C.R.B. may purchase supplies in the primary markets and thus avoid the overpayment of emergency purchases, it is absolutely fundamental that any change in the theoretical program should be advised three months in advance.
10. It is decided to reorganize the statistical department by adding an American delegate, who can travel about and collect the necessary statistics and present them in form to control the supplies and shipments, and to furnish the C.R.B. in London with the data they require.
11. It is considered essential that permanent warehouse space should be taken in Rotterdam, where at least one month's full supplies for Belgium and France can be carried in permanent reserve.
12. It is decided that the C.R.B. shall readjust its prices to the C.N. every two months, beginning July 1st.
It is the general intention that the C.R.B. should make approximately 10 per cent profit on all commodities for the benefit of the destitute, but in the matter of wheat, the price must be adjusted in consultation with the C.N. It is also intended that minimum profits should be made on wheat and bacon and larger profits on peas, beans, and especially rice and maize. The profits earned from the sales to the well- to-do people form a tax for the benefit of the poor, and should, if possible, be
maintained at about 2,500,000 francs per month in order that the soup kitchens may be properly supported.
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With the end of October 1915 the Commission had completed its first year. It had delivered in Rotterdam 980,000 tons(45) of relief supplies valued at $69,000,000, and though there had been some undernourishment the people in Belgium and Northern France had escaped the famine which had cast its shadow over them twelve months before. Bread grains and cereals formed 90 per cent of the
importations into Belgium, yet the Commission had found it necessary to supply some fats so that importations in combination with the local produce would result in a balanced ration for the 9,000,000 people. In Northern France the Commission found it immediately necessary to broaden its category of importations due to the dearth of many articles. At a later date the same necessity arose for Belgium.
Fig. 3.Certificate, 2 November 1914, Whitlock and Villalobar, confirming Belgium's requirements
Gifts in kind to the generous total of 93,000 tons and a value of over $9,000,000 formed part of the Commission's importations. Full gift cargoes of wheat and flour had been transported, and these with the gifts of maize, rice, peas, and beans
entered readily into the machinery of rationing set up by the Commission. Of greater difficulty in handling were the 12,000 tons of miscellaneous groceries donated during the first year. The call for gift clothing had resulted in some 2,000 tons and this had been renovated and distributed to the destitute. As had been anticipated the monthly donations in kind had fallen off considerably by the end of the first year.
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