It would be necessary to reduce the consumption of bread by fully a third in order to make ends meet.
"Shortly before, Mr.Wallhead, a delegate from Manchester, at a conference of the Independent Labour Party in Leeds had stated that, according to his information, England would in six to eight weeks be in a complete state of famine.
"The crisis in which England is placed--and we can fairly call it a crisis now--is further aggravated by the fact that the supplies of other important foodstuffs have likewise taken an unfavourable turn.
"The import of meat in February, 1917, shows the lowest figures for many years, with the single exception of September, 1914.
"The marked falling off in the butter imports--February, 1917, showing only half as much as in the previous year--is not nearly counterbalanced by the margarine which England is making every effort to introduce.
"The import of lard also, most of which comes from the United States, shows a decline, owing to the poor American crops of fodder-stuffs.
The price of lard in Chicago has risen from 151/2 cents at the beginning of January, 1917, to 211/2 cents on April 25, and the price of pigs in the same time from 9.80 to 16.50 dollars.
"Most serious of all, however, is the shortage of potatoes, which at present is simply catastrophic.

The English crop was the worst for a generation past.

The imports are altogether insignificant.

Captain Bathurst stated on April 19 that in about four weeks the supplies of potatoes in the country would be entirely exhausted.
"The full seriousness of the case now stares English statesmen in the face.

Up to now they have believed it possible to exorcise the danger by voluntary economies.