Office of the Historian

550.AD1/144c: Circular telegram

The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic and Consular Officers 24

Washington, April 13, 1943—noon.

Reference circular telegram April 9, 6 p.m.,25 and previous concerning United Nations Food Conference. Please communicate the following to the Government to which you are accredited:

(Appropriate introductory paragraph.)

“Supplementing the suggested outline of the purposes and anticipated scope of the Conference as contained in the invitation, my Government now proposes the following detailed agenda for the Conference:

“This agenda is organized around the following conception of the problem with which the Conference should deal:

“The agenda begins with an effort to ascertain the facts as to what are the needs of the various peoples of the world for food and other essential agricultural products, with due regard to differing conditions and possibilities among countries. It recognizes that in the past excessive accumulations of certain agricultural products were in fact not surpluses at all when measured by the world’s minimum needs of food and clothing; that these so-called surpluses were usually the result of maldistribution and underconsumption. It then seeks to ascertain the prospects for so organizing world agricultural production as to enable the satisfaction of these needs and to explore the measures, both domestic and international, by which production can be enhanced and better directed in terms of consumption. Finally it examines the measures and conditions which are necessary to assure that what can be produced moves into consumption.

  • “I. Consumption levels and requirements.
    A.
    Food
    1.
    Character and extent of consumption deficiencies in each country.
    2.
    Causes and consequences of malnutrition.
    3.
    Measures for improving standards of consumption (education, etc.).
    4.
    Reasonable national and international goals for improved food consumption.
    B.
    Other essential agricultural products.
    1.
    Pre-war consumption levels in various countries as influenced by prosperity or depression and by buying power of the population.
    2.
    Reasonable national and international goals for improved consumption with sustained employment and expanded industrial activity.
  • “II. Expansion of production and adaptation to consumption needs.
    A.
    Measures for redirection of production toward more essential commodities.
    B.
    Measures for shifting production out of commodities in chronic surplus.
    C.
    Measures for improving agricultural productivity and efficiency.
    D.
    Measures for development and conservation of agricultural resources.
    E.
    Opportunities for occupational adjustments in agricultural populations.
  • “III. Facilitation and improvement of distribution.
    A.
    Relation of national and international economic policies to agricultural problems, with special reference to the facilitation of the movement of agricultural products in commerce.
    1.
    Expansion of international trade.
    2.
    Broad policies for assuring increased production and consumption in general.
    B.
    Improvement of agricultural marketing, processing and distribution.
    C.
    Special measures for wider food distribution.
    1.
    Improvement of consumption of low-income groups.
    2.
    International disposition of commodities in over-supply.
    D.
    Buffer stocks and commodity arrangements to assure equitable prices and adequate supplies.
  • “IV. Recommendations for continuing and carrying forward the work of the Conference.

“The following addendum is proposed as a basis for understanding but not for incorporation in the agenda:

“As will be seen from the form of the agenda, it is not contemplated that the Conference would discuss the problems of individual commodities as such, but would rather be organized around the broader aspects of production and distribution in relation to more adequate consumption levels. In any limited discussion of individual commodities that may take place within the broader framework, it would not be contemplated, in any event, that the discussion would include rubber, drug plants, or forest products.

“My Government entertains the hope that the Government of . . . . . . . will be in a position to concur in the projected agenda and addendum and hopes to receive its response on the proposal by April 24, 1943 in order that a definitive agenda may be promptly prepared and distributed.”

Hull
  1. Sent to the diplomatic and consular officers in countries invited to the Food and Agriculture Conference, except the Philippine Commonwealth.↩
  2. Not printed; similar information contained in circular letter to the Chiefs of Mission, April 10, printed supra. ↩