THECUBAREVIEW 27 



THE SUGAR SITUATION IN THE UNITED STATES 



The United states Food Admiiiistriitor has made the following statement regarding the 

 sugar situation and the necessity for increased conservation measures, outlining the re- 

 strictive regulations which became effective July 1. 



A number of causes have cumulated to make our sugar position more difficult than we 

 could have anticii)ated at the beginning of the year. The increased shipping needed by our 

 growing Army in France has necessitated the curtailment of sugar trans])ortation, ])articularly 

 from the longer voyage, and has thus reduced supplies both to the Allies and ourselves from 

 remote markets. Some of the accessible sugar })roducing areas have proved a less yield than 

 was anticipated, such as certain West Indian Islands. Th(! domestic beet and Louisiana crops 

 have fallen below anticipation. There has been some destruction of beet sugar factories in the 

 battle area of France and Italy. We have lost considerable sugar by submarines. 



As close an estimate as we can make indicates a reasonable expectation from all sources of 

 about 1,600,000 tons of sugar for United States consumption during the last half of the present 

 year. This Ls based upon the maintenance of the present meager Allied ration. An improve- 

 ment in ship])iiig conditions would of course relieve this situation, as quantities of sugar are 

 in unavailable markets. We must, however, base the distribution of sugar during the next 

 six montlis upon the above footing. After that period the new West Indian crop will be 



available. 



This supply of 1,600,000 tons necessitated a considerable reduction in our consumption. 

 To provide three pounds of sugar per month per person for household use, to take care of our 

 Army and Xav>- and to provide for the necessary preservation of fruit, miUc, etc., will require 

 about 1,500,000 tons of sugar for the six months. A household consumption of three pounds 

 per month per person, together with the special allowance for home canning, means a reduction 

 of some 35*^1 in these branches of consumption from nonnal, but it is still nearly double the 

 ration in the Allied countries and is ample for every economical use. 



In the plan of distribution which will now go into force, the less essential users of sugar- 

 that is, confectioners, soft drink manufacturers, tobacco manufacturers, et cetera, will be hit 

 the hardest. The Food Administration regrets intensely any action that will cause hardship 

 to any individual, but the situation Ls due to the Germans, not to this Government. There are 

 a number of substitutes available to the confectioners upon which no restrictions are placed. 



In order to secure justice in distribution and to make the restrictive plans as effective as 

 possible no manufacturer or wholesaler of sugar will be allowed after July 1 to sell any sugar 

 except to buyers who secure a certificate from the local Food Administrators, indicating the 

 quantity they may buy. For the purpose of issuing these certificates the various users of 

 sugar are divided into the following groups: 



A— Candy makers, soft drinks, soda fountains, chewdng gum, chocolate and cocoa manu- 

 facturers, tobacco manufacturers, flavoring extracts, invert sugar, syrups, sweet pickles, wines, 

 et cetera. 



£— Commercial canners, vegetables, fruit, milk, medicinal purposes, explosives, glycerine, 



et cetera. 



C— Hotels, restaurants, clubs, dining cars and steamships, boarding houses, hospitals, 

 public institutions and pubUc eating places generally, in which term are included all boarding 

 houses who take care of 25 persons or more. 



D — Bakers and cracker manufacturers of all kinds. 



E — Retail stores and others selhng for direct consumption. 



Every person in these categories must, before Jidy 1, or as soon thereafter as the local 

 Food Administrator determines, make a statement upon a form that will be provided showing 

 the sugar they hold or have in transit on July 1. All stocks in excess of three months supply 

 at the rate of consumption that -will be allowed in each concern will be requisitioned by the 

 Administrators and redistributed at once. Any stock less than ninety days but in excess of 

 thirty days must be held subject to the local Administrator for distribution if necessary, de- 

 pending much upon remoteness from source of supply. It is manifestly unfair for any one to 

 be overstocked in such a situation as this, as it must prejudice the common interest of regular 



