July 13, 1961 - Senator Hubert H. Humphrey reported today that the Communist bloc was grappling with staggering food shortages and that this might be behind the Soviet Union's pressure on West Berlin. He described Premier Khrushchev's drive on Berlin as "part of an effort to distract from and cover up the massive food shortage in his wobbly empire." Mr. Khrushchev "is not ready to go to war" in his dispute with the West over Berlin, Sen. Humphrey said. The Minnesota Democrat said he based his views on talks with Western and Communist leaders, including the Chinese, as well as private international businessmen, during visits to Geneva and Berlin.
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