561.311D1/6: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 24—2:30 p.m.]
119. G. Howard Ferguson, Chairman of the forthcoming Conference of Wheat Exporting Countries, sent me the letter which I am transmitting below. He sent this invitation in his office as Chairman of the aforementioned Conference, not in his capacity as Canadian High Commissioner in London. When he informally presented the invitation, later reduced to written form, I informed him that, in my opinion, the Department would probably transmit the invitation to the Farm Board, which was primarily concerned with such matters. Unless I hear otherwise from you, I shall proceed on the [Page 633] assumption that any subsequent correspondence will be carried on between Ferguson, as Chairman of the Conference, and the responsible official on the Farm Board. The invitation is as follows:60
“You were good enough a few days ago to give me the opportunity of discussing with you the pending Conference of Wheat Exporting Countries to be held here on May 18th. I desire now to repeat in a more formal manner the invitation which I then verbally extended to you that the United States of America be represented at this gathering.
You will recall that I explained to you that after considerable discussion amongst the representatives of the forty odd countries who recently met in Rome,61 there was a general feeling that there was more likelihood of progress being made in an effort to improve methods of distribution of surplus wheat stocks and the more orderly marketing of the crops of exporting countries if a smaller gathering consisting of representatives from wheat exporting countries alone could meet for the discussion of this question. This suggestion, which I had the honor to make to the general meeting, was approved, and the wheat exporting countries, after some consultation, decided to meet here on the 18th May. I was asked to organize and convene the Conference and I am busily engaged in that matter now.
An invitation has been sent to the Governments of the eleven exporting countries, and I expect all will be represented. You will, I am sure, concur in the view that if it is possible to find any method that will ameliorate the present unfortunate condition of the world’s wheat situation, and provides for an avoidance of its recurrence, a great forward step will have been achieved toward the better adjustment of the present world-wide economic difficulties.
I confess to you at once that I am not sufficient of an expert to speak with assurance as to the fruits of the pending meeting. I feel very strongly, however, and I trust you will agree with me, that a general round-table frank discussion in camera amongst those who have wheat to sell can in no way increase our difficulties, and, on the other hand, may prove very helpful. We owe it, not only to the people of our respective countries, but to the world, to at least make a serious effort to better conditions.
The United States of America occupies a very prominent and influential position in the grain market of the world, and to have at this Conference the benefit of its wide experience and the business judgment of your representatives would be of inestimable value. I can assure you it will be a matter of deep regret if the United States is not represented, and the absence of such an important factor in the situation might easily render the cumulative effort of all the other countries barren of result.
Having these considerations in view, may I express the fervent hope that your country will recognize this Conference by having representatives present?
[Page 634]I shall be deeply grateful if you will transmit this invitation to the proper authorities and will greatly appreciate an early and favorable reply.”
- Letter not paraphrased.↩
- Preparatory Conference to the Second World Wheat Conference, Rome, March 26–April 2, 1931; for records of this Conference, see Institut International d’Agriculture, Actes de la Conference Internationale Préparatoire de la IIéme Conférence Mondiale du Blé, Rome, 26 mars–2 avril, 1931 (Rome, 1931).↩