,) 



-If- 



threats of strikes. One "bcwie for my opinion Is the action of the stock market. In 

 spite of the closing of automobile factories^ a threat to gasoline supplies and the 

 demand for a JO percent Increase In hourlyjiageN^rates, the stock market has remained 

 strong. This would Indicate that the demand for manufactured products Is expected to 

 remain at a high level; that Industries do not expect to he forced to close down for 

 any long period; and that profits are expected to remain at a hl^ enou^ level, proba- 

 bly as a result of a large volume of business, to take care of emy wage Increases that 

 are likely to be granted and still pay reasonable dividends. 



Larger supplies of shortening and soap to civilians . Beginning October 1 

 quotas will be Increased for manufacturers of fats and oils for the production of 

 civilian supplies of shortening, cooking and salad oils from the present 79 percent 

 to 88 percent of average use during the 19^-*«-l base period. The quota for margarine 

 remains at 95 percent. The quarterly quota for household package €uid bar soap has In- 

 creased from the present ^k to 78 percent. The quota of production of paints and 

 varnish, coated fabrics euad floor covering such as linoleum will Increase from the 

 present ^5 to 75 percent. Secretary Anderson said, "It Is hoped that larger and more 

 even distribution of these products throughout the country will make It possible to 

 reconmend removal of shortening and cooking oils from rationing after January 1, 19*»6." 



Fourth q\iarter sugar allotment . For the fourth quarter of J.9^5 United States 

 civilians have been allotted 982 thousand tons of sugar. This is approximately equal 

 to the 19^2 quantity for civilians but substantially lower than the quantity made avail- 

 able to civilians in the fourth quarter of last year. 



President Truman considers agriculture in reconversion plans . In his special 

 reconversion message to Congress, the President recommended: 1. Making an additional 

 $5,000,000,000 available to the Commodity Credit Corporation to safeguard farm prices. 

 This should be done by transferring lend-lease funds to the account of CCC on a con- 

 tinuing basis. 2. Stimulation of the export of feirm products, peurtlcularly through 

 shipment of more food to weu:- ravaged areas. 3« Strengthening €ind further development 

 of the federal crop insurance programs, which, together with the assurance of reason- 

 able and stable feirm prices, will go a long way toward meeting basic problems which 

 have plagued farmers in the past. k. Continuation euid strengthening of progirams for 

 conservation and Improvement of our soil and forest resources, and also for scientific 

 research. 



GpLJrCD 

 9/27A5 



