550.AD1/91

The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt 17

My Dear Mr. President: As you know, it is the accepted practice for the chairman of the delegation of the host country to serve as the temporary president of international conferences. I believe that this procedure should be followed with respect to the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Food and Agricultural Production and I shall appreciate your informing me whether you approve the designation of the Chairman of our Delegation, Judge Marvin Jones, to serve as the temporary president of the Conference.

This Government also will have the obligation of selecting the Secretary General of the Conference to be in complete charge of the organization and administration of the Conference Secretariat. Administratively, the Secretariat will be independent of the United States Delegation, although close liaison and cooperation of course will be maintained.

I feel that in view of the importance of the position of Secretary General of the Conference, it is highly desirable that a candidate of the highest qualifications and most extensive experience in this specialized field should be selected. I recommend, therefore, that Dr. Warren Kelchner, Chief of the Division of International Conferences of this Department, be named to serve in this capacity. Dr. Kelchner was Executive Vice President in charge of arrangements for the Eighth American Scientific Congress, the largest international meeting ever held in this Hemisphere, and has served in an advisory or [Page 829] executive capacity on this Government’s delegation to every inter-American diplomatic conference held during the past ten years.

As the preparations for the meeting progress, it will be necessary of course to designate other officers of the Secretariat to serve under the Secretary General. Candidates for these positions will be drawn from experienced personnel in the Government service and if you concur, I shall later send to you for your consideration the names of persons competent to serve in such capacities.

Faithfully yours,

Cordell Hull
  1. Marginal note: “CH OK FDR”.