Food Administrator’s File

Resolutions Adopted by the American, British, French, and Italian Food Controllers ( Hoover, Clynes, Boret, Crespi), July 29, 19181

The Food Controllers of Great Britain, France, Italy, and the United States having met together to examine their respective requirements of food in relation to the supplies available, are of opinion that the time has now arrived when further steps should be taken to co-ordinate the food programmes of each of the Allied countries in the light of:—

(a)
Their import necessities,
(b)
Tonnage available,
(c)
Finance, and
(d)
Elimination of competition in purchase and transport.

(2) The aim of such co-ordination should be to preserve a proper balance between the needs of the Allied countries, not only in respect of single commodities or groups of commodities as has hitherto been the case, but in regard to their food supplies as a whole and to secure the purchase and transport of overseas supplies.

(3) They have therefore agreed, subject to the approval of their respective Governments, upon the formation of an Inter-Allied Food Council, which shall be composed of the Food Controllers of the four Allied countries above-mentioned, which shall meet every three months, or as often as may be necessary, and shall within the limits of the powers conferred on it by the respective Governments agree upon a programme and method of food imports embracing the-needs of all the Allied countries and determine questions of common interest and policy.

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(4) They have further agreed that the four Food Controllers should each appoint an equal number of representatives to form a body called the “Inter-Allied Food Council Committee of Representatives,” having its headquarters in London.

The Committee of Representatives shall, with the approval of the Food Council, elect an independent chairman, from outside their own members, who shall have no vote.

The Inter-Allied Maritime Council, the Inter-Allied Finance Council, and the Inter-Allied Scientific Commission will each be asked to appoint a delegate to assist the Committee of Representatives. When the Committee of Representatives finds that the interests of other countries are involved they may invite representatives of these countries to attend.

(5) The functions of the Committee of Representatives shall be, subject to the direction of their Food Controllers, to secure and coordinate the programmes of the various food executives (specified below) dealing with particular classes of food-stuffs, and to consolidate these programmes into a general food programme for all foods and all Allied countries; to act as the sole channel of communication as to general policy between these executives and the Inter-Allied Maritime Council and Inter-Allied Finance Council; to adjust the food programme from time to time according to circumstances; to supervise and ensure the purchase and shipping programme and to generally carry on the work of the Council in accordance with the powers delegated to it by the respective Food Controllers.

(6) The following committees or executives are set up or continued:

(a)
Wheat Executive,
(b)
Meats and Fats Executive,
(c)
Sugar Programme Committee,
(d)
Oil Seed Programme Committee

and such other committees as may become necessary from time to time.

These executives and committees shall from time to time formulate programmes for the equitable provision and distribution of imports among the different countries and shall cooperate in directing the execution of such programmes, subject to the policy set out by the Food Controllers through the Committee of Representatives. These executives and committees are to be constituted of equal numbers of representatives from England, France, Italy, and the United States.

Confirmed:
  • J. R. Clynes
  • Herbert Hoover
  • Boret
  • Crespi
  1. According to telegram No. 783, Aug. 1, from the Ambassador in Great Britain (File No. 600.119/1093), these resolutions were part of a memorandum which was preceded, as a preamble, by the American memorandum on programs in general, transmitted to the Chargé in Great Britain in telegram No. 184, July 12, post, p. 597.