"A Hell of a Christmas Present"

The Dominion Government was caught off base; it was angry and indignant at the sudden dropping of meat rationing in the U.S. (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS). Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King hastened over to tell the House of Commons his decision: the U.S. could end meat rationing if it pleased, Canada would not.

In a voice heated with emotion, prim Mr. King reminded the House that Canada had resumed rationing in September to make "the fullest possible contribution to the needs of the United Kingdom and the continent of Europe." He had noted during his recent fact-finding visit to Britain that the outlook was now "even more urgent and more desperate."

Under the Combined Food Board (Canada, U.S., Britain), each country had undertaken "to make its best contribution to the common problems," King continued. Then he made a pointed comparison: "The United States, in exporting less than 5% of its meat supplies, may be able to manage its program through 'set aside' orders without rationing, and still be able to maintain fair distribution and fair prices. ... In Canada we could not, without rationing, export between 40 and 50% of our federally inspected [one-third the total] kill and maintain orderly distribution and hold our ceiling prices."

As King pledged Canada's continued "best endeavors to meet the perilous situation which confronts Europe as winter sets in," members from all parties pounded their desks in agreement. Said one top Canadian civil servant: the U.S. action '"is a hell of a Christmas present to the people of Europe."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.