Evening star., 1943-05-26
The Wrong Approach

Inc wrong approach
When the administration, for rea-
sons Of it's own, first imposed restric-
tions upon news gathering at the
United Nations Conference on Food
and Agriculture it made a mistake
that has had unfortunate results.
And while these restrictions have
been gradually lifted the results still
persist.
Suspicious were engendered A
belief spread that there was some
thing to cover up; that the confer
ence was to be used to put across
international understandings, if not
actual agreements.
One manifestation was the de-
mand by Representative Bradley of
Michigan, Republican, that members
Of Congress be permitted to attend
the sessions of the conference. The
theory OF this proposal is easily un-
derstood. If the Congress could not
learn the background of the recon-
mendations emanating from the
conference by reports of free press,
then Congress itself must become an
observer.
Mr.. Bradley was courteously re-
ceived by President Marvin Jones
and other officials of the conference.
He was given free access to the dele
gates. He was denied, however, the
privilege of attending the executive
meetings Of the various committees
of the conference. From this ruling
Mr.. Bradley has emphatically ap-
pealed. He has threatened a con-
gressional investigation OF the con-
ference.
Before such an investigation is
pressed, however, certain facts should
be given consideration. Forty-five
nations have sent their representa-
tives to this conference, the objective
of which is the betterment OF their
peoples through an increased and
improved supply of food. None of
them has insisted upon having it's
legislative representatives on hand
as observers-unless they happened
themselves to be delegates.
The foreign relations of the United
States, under the Constitution, are
entrusted to the executive branch of
the Government, so far as the nego-
tiation OF international agreements
is concerned. Once the negotiations
have been concluded, ratification of
agreements is dealt with by the Sem
ate, or by concerted action of both
houses of Congress.
The demand of Mr. Bradley, there
fore, that he and other members of
Congress be permitted to sit in on the
negotiations at Hot Springs is un-
warranted, both under the Constitu-
ton and under the practices that
have prevailed since the beginning
Of the Republic. What would Mr..
Bradley and his colleagues say if
Secretary OF the Treasury Morgen-
thau, either in person or through
some OF his subordinates. should de-
mand, as right, the privilege Of
sitting in executive sessions of the
House Ways and Means Committee
or the House Appropriations Com
mittee while they were drafting leg
islation? The roar on Capitol Hill
would be deafening-and properly so.
It is obvious that whatever pro-
posals grow out of the food confer
ence must have legislative sanction,
either through appropriations or
some legislative act, before they can
become effective. When that time
comes, the Congress will be entitled
to the fullest information regarding
these proposals before it acts. In
the meantime no useful purpose can
be served by congressional shopping
into executive sessions of the food
conference. 1t would only prove an
embarrassment, an obstacle to the
delegates already engaged in a tough
task.