325. Editorial Note
The International Coffee Council held its eighth session in London from August 22 to September 6, 1966. One major U.S. goal for this meeting was the establishment of a Coffee Diversification Fund. As stated in circular telegram 15095, July 26, “The immediate purpose of Fund is to provide funds to assist in general programs to diversify away from coffee production, but Dept hopes that in addition existence of Fund will generate use of IBRD and bilateral aid funds for rational diversification programs in countries where continued production of unsaleable coffee constitutes waste of natural resources.” (Department of State, Central Files, INCO–COFFEE 3) General instructions to Edward R. Fried, who headed the U.S. delegation to the London meeting, are contained in an August 19 memorandum from William B. Buffum, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. (Ibid.)
In remarks to the International Coffee Council on September 5, after the Council’s passage of several resolutions attacking the chronic problem [Page 793] of coffee overproduction, Fried provided his evaluation of the meeting. Among other things, he noted that “we have come a long way and we have a long way to go,” and he hoped that “it will prove possible to put the Diversification Fund in operation during the next coffee year.” (Text sent in circular airgram 2111, September 15; ibid.) For a Department of State summary and evaluation of the meeting, see Document 325.
Additional documentation relating to the London meeting is in Department of State, Central Files, INCO–COFFEE 3.