Evening star., 1943-04-20
Congress 10 Get
Food Program
Before Farley
Plans Being Mapped
To Admit Reporters
To Some Sessions
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Chairman Fulmer of the House
Agriculture Committee an
nounced today that the United
States delegates to the coming
United Nations food conference
would submit their program" to
the House and Senate Agricul-
ture Committees before the ses-
sions begin.
His statement was issued after
the House Agriculture and Foreign
Affairs Committee conferred at
length behind closed doors with
Assistant Secretary of State Dean
G. Acheson. 1t follows:
THE proposed conference will
deal with postwar food problems,
relating to production, distribution
and consumption.
1T is a finding conference.
Before meeting in conference our
delegates appointed by the Fresi-
dent of the United States will meet
with the Agriculture Committees
OF the Senate and House md sub
NIT their program for the purpose
Of discussing same with these com-
mittees, giving their views thereon,
as well as receiving the views of
the members of these committees. :"
Press Coverage Being Mapped.
simultaneously, Mr.. Fulmer said
that Mr.. Acheson had told the COM
mittee that a definite program"
was being worked out to acmit
the press "at the proper times to
some of the conference sessions at
Hot Springs, Va. Previous plans
called for coverage of only the
opening and closing sessions.
The Agriculture Committee chair
man called Mr.. Acheson's disclosure
helpful to the country and Con-
gress" and said that it was likely the
two congressional committees and
the delegates would have several
meetings before the sessions get un-
der way.
In response to a question he said
there was no assurance the delegates
would accept the suggestions of the
committee members, but added that
the delegates had no assurance that
Congress would accept its recon-
mendations-if any-for legislative
action.
Hope Sticks to Proposal.
While expressing approval of the
plans for the preconference get
together, representative Hope, Re
publican, of Kansas said he would
not withdraw his resolution to send
a flve-member Agriculture Subcom-
mittee to the sessions.
Earlier, Senator George, Demo-
crat, OF Georgia told reporters he
felt that present arrangements
barring the press from contact with
delegates and from attending any
but the formal opening and closing
sessions Cannot but have a bad
effect on American opinion"
Il don't see why the whole ques-
ton of the postwar production and
distribution of food cannot be dis
cussed openly and why public dis
cussions would not be helpful" de-
clared the Georgian, who is chair
man OF special Senate committee
to study economic planning for the
peace period.
If the preliminary conversations
have not been held which would
permit public discussion of these
problems, then the call for the
conference is premature"
Will Announce Agenda Soon.
Although Majority Leader Bark
ley told reporters the State Depart
ment soon would announce an
agenda for the meeting, Senator
George said there was nothing in
the outline of conference plans
made by Mr. Acheson to indicate
that any basis yet had been reached
for anything except the most pre-
liminary kind of talks.
Senator Barkley said he was
satisfied that no commitments could
be expected to come out of the con-
ference, but Senator Aiken, Repub-
lican, of Vermont, declared he would
feel more assurance on this point If
the State Department would make a
formal statement tc that effect.
Il can't understand why it is so
advisable to exclude members of the
press or members of Congress from
the meeting" Senator Aiken said
Il hope they will. rescind that
decision. Public opinion is likely to
force the administration to keep the
public informed
Mr.. Acheson appeared before a
closed joint session of the Senate
Foreign Relations and Agriculture
Committee yesterday.
He was reported to have told the
Senators that any decision on relax
ing restrictions surrounding the Hot
y1fR1