Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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supplies?7 An exception was made for bread destined for Belgian towns near the Dutch
border, after the government came to an agreement with the Commission for the Regulation
of Living Needs of the Belgian Border Municipalities (C0711711issie tot regeling der
voorziening van noodzakelijke levensbehoeflen in Belgische grensgemeenten).38 As long as
sufficient loaves remained in Dutch bakeries, excess stock could be sold in Belgium. 39
Occasionally, commanders also regulated food consumption. Long before the
government rationed bread, the military restricted the production of white bread. For
example, in October 1914, during a protracted period of flour shortages in Zeeland, the
Territorial Commander ordered that bakers could only bake bread containing 20 per cent
white flour. 4o He also instructed that fanners growing rye for cattle feed had to sell it to
bakeries. 41 The baking and storage regulations were usually temporary, lasting only until
regular grain imports returned to nonnal. Mid-way through 1916, the government replaced
the ad hoc regulations imposed by the military and municipal councils with a
comprehensive Distribution Law that applied to the entire nation. 42
The regulation of bread production and consumption in the "state of siege" was a
convenience, affecting neither neutrality nor national security. But military authorities in the
south felt entirely within their right to monitor the trade in, and production of, bread
because it affected the welfare of residents. Of course, after Bosboom's directive in March
1915, all municipal regulations had to be officially authorised by commanders, so
consumption became an integral part of military responsibilities. Once the Distribution Law
came into effect and the powers of commanders in the "state of siege" decreased, their
involvement in distribution disappeared almost entirely.
37 See: Appendix 8, p. 459.
38 Commission for the Regulation of Living Needs of Belgian Border Municipalities (Col71111issie tot regeling der
voorziening van noodzakelijke levensbelloeften ill Belgiselle grensgemeenten) to Royal Library Department of
Documentation, 11 May 1915, in ARA, "Archiefvan de Afdeling Documentatie van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek"
entJyno. 2.04.53.14, inventory no. 10.
39 Commander-in-Chiefto all military authorities, 4 January 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry
no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 167; Territorial Commander in Zeeland, "Overzicht van de maatregelen del' militaire
overheid t.o.v levensmiddelen in de provincie Zeeland" May 1915, in ARA, "AI' chief van de Afdeling Documentatie
van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek" entry no. 2.04.53.14, inventory no. 10; Commander-in-Chiefto Minister of Foreign
Affairs, 27 August 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 178.
40 Territorial Commander in Zeeland, "Overzicht van de maatregelen der militaire overheid t.o.v levensmiddelen in
de provincie Zeeland" May 1915, in ARA, "Archiefvan de Afdeling Documentatie van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek"
entry no. 2.04.53.14, inventory no. 10; Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Doellmenten voor de Eeonomisehe Crisis van
Nederland Volume 2 pp. 125 -128.
41 Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Doellmenten voor de Eeonomisehe Crisis van Nederland Volume 2 p. 130.
42 See: Chapter 9, pp. 310 - 324.