Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-29
CONSIDER WORLD
|. FARLEY ON COTTON
Three U. S. Agencies Get
Proposal of Egypt for
Conference.

By the Associated Press.
Egypt's formal proposal for an in
ternational conference to discuss the
world cotton depression was laid by
the State Department today before the
interested Federal agencies for their
opinions.
Copies of the note which was handed
to Acting Secretary Of State Castle
yesterday were forwarded to the AgTi-
culture and Commerce Departments and
the Federal Farm Board
The three agencies already have be-
fore them an informal intimation of
the Egyptian proposal sent to the State
Department five days ago by cable by
the American legation at Cairo.
Note Suggests Conference.
The note suggested some sort OF IN
| ternational discussion among the inter-
ested cotton-producing nations. India,
! Soviet Russia and Mexico were stimuli
taneously asked by Egypt for their
opinions on the proposed conference.
On1cials said informally they doubted
II any great advantage could be OBJ
tanned from q conference to discuss
limitation Of production.
An experts conference, however,
which would consider problems Of dis
tribution or make recommendations on
control of production for legislative sp-
proval might have some advantages, IL
was said.
The Egyptian communication was
sent TO the three agencies without COM
ment by the State Department.
Smith Asks Pariey.
| Almost simultaneously with the re-
| ceipt from the State Department OF
| the formal Egyptian proposal, the Farm
| Board received request from Senator
| Smith Of South Carolina for q second
conference with Southern Senators this
| afternoon.
Smith was not present at the meeting
| yesterday when the plans Of Senator
| George of Georgia and others were
| discussed as a possible means Of re-
ducing cotton supply and increasing
| prices.
| The South Carolinian has been press
| ing for adoption Of his own proposal
| for the purchase of 5000. 900 bales of
cotton by the board at current prices
| contingent upon farmers signing con-
| tracts not to plant next year. The cot
| ton would be resold to those farmers
| next year plus reasonable carrying
| charges.
Carl williams. cotton member Of thu
1 GAhA 4gSAAAs 81AA y AGfkAS WOA&A NC N441~
| patched within q short time. While
saying he had no opportunity to form
definite opinion at this time, he said he
could see no reason why the board
should not be willing to discuss the
world cotton problem with representa-
tives OF the Egyptian or any other gov
/ eminent.
Initiative on q. s.
! The text Of the note, transmitted late
yesterday by Minister Sidarouss Of
Egypt through the State Department,
was not made public, but 1t Is under
stood that the initiative for calling the
conference was placed upon the United
States in view of this country's posi-
ton as the major cotton-producing Ma
| ton.
The Farm Board sent a delegate 10
| the international conference of wheat
| exporting nations at London last May
| to attempt some solution CT the wheat
| problem caused by overproducti0n.
With respect to the Egyptian sugges-
ton for q cotton conference. the board
| is entirely sympathetic. stf
| The Egyptian note was forwarded 70
the Farm Board, while its members were
[ IN session with Southern Senator'S, who
1 had come here at the bidding Of Senator
George of Georgia to discuss the do
mestic problem Of overproduction and
record low prices with the board.
Interested I'm u. s. Price.
The Egyptian government is inter-
ested in the American cotton farmers
problems. because the price Of American
cotton largely rules the world price.
Egypt produced 1861 900 bales last year,
chiefly long staple.
Hundreds of suggestions for reducing
cotton supplies, aggravated by this
4 V0arfg y4TrgFNarffxra ~ EQA
bales, have been presented formally
and Informally. The boards own pro-
posal OF blowing up every third row al
| means Of increasing prices has been
rejected by the Southern States.
No further meeting with the board
was contemplated, but other Southern
Senators are coming to WASHINGTON
and 1t is considered likely the group
viii hold further meetings In an effort
to arrive at an accord on one plan
prior to presenting 1t to the board ON
Gals at later conference.
During the day Gov. Russell OF
Georgia appealed to President Hoover
to summon q special session Of Con-
gress, If the board fails to act, and
urged him to lend his good Offices to
the meeting OF Southern Senators with
board officials.
Senator George estimated only about
$4,000, 900 Of board money would be
necessary to carry out his plan Of pay
ing 6 cents now and 6 cents in Octo-
Der, 1882, to farmers who agree not to
plant another crop. The remainder
necessary, he believes. could be bor-
rowed from intermediate credit and
commercial banks
Whether the other Senators who
were present at the meeting are In
agreement with Georges proposal could
not be learned.