411.006/8–1651: Circular airgram
The Acting Secretary of State to All Diplomatic and Consular Offices 1
Washington, August 16,
1951—8:05 a. m.
Restrictions on Imports of Certain Agricultural Products
1. The Department of Agriculture released on August 9, substantially the following announcement:
- “The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that effective immediately no commercial imports of peanuts, peanut oil, butter, butter oil and nonfat dried milk solids will be permitted for domestic consumption. The announcement stated also that imports of cheese and casein had been placed on a quota basis.
- This action taken in accordance with provisions of the Defense Production Act, as amended, which require imposition of controls over fats and oils, butter, cheese, and other dairy products if the importation would (1) impair or reduce domestic production, (2) interfere with orderly domestic storing or marketing, or (3) result in any unnecessary burden or expenditure under any government price-support program. Department officials stated that uncontrolled imports of commodities listed in today’s announcement would have one or more of the specified adverse effects.
- Total quantities of casein and of each type of cheese to be licensed for import will be based upon a percentage of recent average annual imports. Licenses will be issued to eligible importers in accordance with each applicant’s historical record of imports during the base period.
- For the period from August 9 through December 31, 1951, the total quantity of each type of cheese that will be licensed for importation will be limited to five-twelfths of the annual average importations of that type of cheese during three base-period years, the calendar years 1948–50. The total quantity of casein that will be licensed for importation through December 31, 1951, will be limited to five-twelfths of the amount imported during the one-year base period, the fiscal year ended June 30, 1951.
- Importers of record who desire emergency licenses in order to proceed with current transactions will be required to furnish details of their import records before emergency licenses will be granted. Licenses will be granted, upon application, for transshipment of restricted commodities through the United States for foreign destinations.
- Applications for import authorization, and details of documentation that will be required to establish records of importation during [Page 1433] applicable base periods, are available upon request to the Director, Fats and Oils Branch, Production and Marketing Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington 25, D.C.”
2. This information was given at two p.m. on August 9 to representatives of the Washington missions of the following countries:
| France | Dominican Republic |
| Denmark | Italy |
| New Zealand | Switzerland |
| Netherlands | Norway |
| Canada | Argentina |
| Uruguay | Australia |
| Finland |
3. Flaxseed and screenings, linseed oil, rice and rice products continue to be embargoed.
4. Copies of the order of the Department of Agriculture will be supplied to all posts as soon as available.
5. Text of Section 104 of Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, now reads:
- “Import controls of fats and oils (including oil-bearing materials, fatty acids, and soap and soap powder, but excluding petroleum and petroleum products and coconuts and coconut products), peanuts, butter, cheese and other dairy products, and rice and rice products are necessary for the protection of the essential security interests and economy of the United States in the existing emergency in international relations, and no imports of any such commodity or product shall be admitted to the United States until after June 30, 1952, which the Secretary of Agriculture determines would (a) impair or reduce the domestic production of any such commodity or product below present production levels, or below such higher levels as the Secretary of Agriculture may deem necessary in view of domestic and international conditions, or (b) interfere with the orderly domestic storing and marketing of such commodity or product, or (c) result in any unnecessary burden or expenditures under any Government price support program. The President shall exercise the authority and powers conferred by this section.”
Webb
- On August 9 In circular telegram 121, 8 p. m., the Department cabled this Information on a priority basis for action to the United States Embassies in Paris, Copenhagen, Wellington, The Hague, Ottawa, Montevideo, Ciudad Trujillo, Rome, Bern, Oslo, Buenos Aires, Canberra, and Helsinki; it was repeated for Information to London.↩