Evening star., 1943-05-24

| told the conference. Included are
the Bolivian. Norwegian, Chinese
| Netherlands. French and Liberian
delegation. Russian representa-
tives have made no statement, but
their economy is characterized, of
course, by state control.
The United States delegatio is
itself divided. On the one hand
is Murray D. Lincoln, farm leader,
who would have the Government
play greater role in national and
international economic affairs. On
the other is Assistant Secretary of
Commerce w. L. Clayton, firm be-
lever in private enterprise.
The British. longtime exponents
Of private initiative in interna-
tional finance and trade, surprised
the conference by lining up for an
international agency with powers
to stabilize commodity prices and
supplies. This proposal was laid
before the conference in memo
randum presented by the British
delegation last night.
Such powers would narrow the
field Of private enterprise.
Evoking debate is the question
Of how undernourished peoples are
to be provided adequate diets. 1t
is generally agreed that this is
problem which each country must
solve for itself. Most delegations
have declared against permanent
international relief.
Debt to Citizens Concept.
Nevertheless. several delegations
are advocating universal adoption
of the concept that the political
state owes its citizens a minimum
standard of diet. Here again the
British are taking lead in advo-
eating the state subsidization of
food production On the other hand,
the delegation of the Union of South
Africa takes the view that food
subsidization as national policy,
| except under special circumstances,
can be adopted only with great
, circumspection at the serious risk of
undermining self-reliance."
Creation of a world agricultural
authority to help provide an abun-
dance Of food at stable prices and
to help shift production to more
efficient producing areas was advo-
Gated last night in the 2.20O-word
memorandum signed by Chairman
Richard K. Law of the United King
dom delegation.
| Such an agency would accumulate
and maintain an lever normal
granary' reserve or buffer stock"
Of storable commodities upon which
supplies could be drawn to meet
consumer needs in lean crop years
and replenished in years Of extra
production.
These stocks. if properly man.
aged would shield both consumers
and producers from violent fluctua-
tions in price, the delegation said.
The memorandum, however did
not suggest how the various coun-
tries should contribute to the granary
reserve nor did 1t indicate how nom
agricultural countries could partici-
pate.
Follows AAA Program.
Such granary plan would have
many of the characteristics of the
United States AAA farm program
with one exception. In buying and
selling stocks from the granary, the
authority would follow policies de-
signed to allow steady rate of pro-
duction expansion to the most eff
cient producers.
Under the AAA plan. production
allotments are apportiored among
producers under formula which
takes past production into account
regardless of its efficiency.
The British declared there should
be no world regulation of exports by
quotas except under the control of
an authority fully representa- tive of
both producers and consumers.
Under the AAA program, domestic
production and marketing quotas
are determined by producer
minded agency. While stating it
was not the function of the con-
ference to consider wartime produc-
ton and distribution of food or
relief needs in the immediate post
war period, the memorandum urged,
| AAoWCVSAy O1loI GllC oI1CCO
make greater effort now to produce
more food for war needs. It asked
also for an equitable distribution"
of such food
"Co-ordinated Purchase"
The memorandum advocated the
"co-ordinated purchase, ALLEGATION
and transportation of foods by the
Allies. At present there is little CO.
ordination except as between Britain
and the United States through q
combined food board.
Apart from insuring the best pos
sible use Of available supplies, some
machinery Of ALLEGATION will be
needed" the British said, If We are
to avoid . repetition Of what hap
pened after the last war when the
boom Of 1910 was followed inevi-
taby by the slump Of 1921, With its