FOOD SHORTAGE AND PROHIBITION.
AN APPEAL.
The situation created by the Shortage of Food and the continued destruction of cereals in the manufacture of intoxicants is so serious that, as explained in our leading columns, tee have deter- waned to ask our readers to subscribe, on as generous a scale as Passible, to a movement to awaken the British people to the dangers they are running by neglecting to insist that Bread must come before Beer. After careful consideration we hare come to the conclusion that the best way in which we can accomplish this end is by supporting " The Strength of Britain Movement "—an organizction conducted by capable business men. Their object is the "Spectator's" object—to obtain Prohibition during the War.
As-our readers know, before the Food Shortage was declared by the Government to be so serious, we expressed our willingness to accept Purchase as the half-way house to Prohibition. We felt sure, and still feel sure, that Purchase is the key to unlock the Prohibition door, and that directly private profit was eliminated national safety must prevail over Trade considerations. Appar- ently, however, the Government are not, as we hoped, going to agree to the demand for Purchase.
The Food Shortage and the appalling dangers which Threaten the country have driven us to the conclusion that the nation cannot wait any longer and see seventy per cent. of the cereals which were used up by the Brewers before the Shortage was reali:ed still turned into intoxicants.
We demand then at the very least Prohibition of the destruction of foodstufts in the manufacture of intoxicants.
If the food now wasted in brewing is to help us, that waste must be slapped quickly. If we wait till things get worse it will be too late—the Barley which might have become Bread will hare become Beer.
For these reasons we urge those of our readers who wish to make the country absolutely safe—and who is there who will dare to say that he would rather see the Trade in intoxicants flourish than the country placed in absolute safety?—to forward their subscriptions to us, and we will see that they are made use of by "The Strength of Britain Movement."
Subscriptions should be addressed to
THE " SPECTATOR," I Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C.
The letters "D. G." should be clearly written on the envelope. Cheques should be made payable to the "Spectator " and crossed " Barclay and Co., Goslings' Branch, Spectator D. G.' Account." Subscriptions will be acknowledged in our columns.
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