550.AD1/140

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of International Conferences (Kelchner)39

I attach the original of a personal message to the Secretary from Dr. H. V. Evatt expressing concern at the possibility that Australia may be excluded from one of the principal positions in connection with food relief matters.

The broad principles with respect to the organization and administration of the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture have now crystallized fairly well and at this juncture I see no justification for any apprehension on the part of Australia or any other “small” country concerning a possible exclusion from active participation in matters pertaining to the Conference. The meeting will be organized and administered on a purely democratic basis and each country will be permitted to join in the discussions of any or all of the technical sections and sub-committees of the Conference. All elections to Conference offices will be determined by majority vote of the participating delegations. I attach for convenience of reference a copy of the Regulations of the Conference40 which were distributed yesterday among the representative missions in Washington.

It would appear that the concern expressed by Dr. Evatt does not apply specifically to the forthcoming Food Conference and that the matter, therefore, falls within your province.

Warren Kelchner
[Page 841]
[Annex]

The Australian Minister for External Affairs ( Evatt ) to the Secretary of State

We are very concerned at the possible exclusion of Australia from one of the primary positions in connection with the food relief proposals. Our approach to and work on these questions should be of the greatest assistance to the United Nations.

The suggestion that the executive is to consist of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and China would relegate important food producing countries like Australia to a secondary role. Our view in this respect is similar to that of Canada.

  1. Addressed to Roy Veatch of the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations and to the Director of the Office, Herbert H. Lehman.
  2. Not printed.