Evening star., 1949-01-26
Wheat Supply Farley
Opens Here 10 Seek
Distribution Accord
By Malcolm Lomborne, Jr.

: Delegates from 4s countries
and two international organiza-
tions gathered here today for the
opening session, of a conference
designed to work out a long
range agreement for distributing
the worlds wheat supply be-
tween have and have-not ma
lions.
> The negotiations are certain to see
the United States arrayed on the
side of other exporters seeking a
relatively high price for their grain
and the United Kingdom leading
the debate for wheat importers and
o low price.
! Neither of the two major powers
gave any hint in advance of the talks,
which formally open at pm, as
to what prices they have in mind.
Some time in the next few weeks,
It is hoped, the negotiators will have
narrowed down their differences and
arrived at compromise figure.
So Ceiling Specified.
Last years wheat pact, which
failed to go into operation, called
for a ceiling price of 50 bushel
and a floor price of s150. Each year
thereafter for the next four years,
the floor price was to decline 10
cents a bushel, until it stood at
$11o.
Russia's position in the talks was
also a secret. although as big
wheat producer she might be found
siding with the United States. Can
ada and Australia. Argentina,
another newcomer to recent wheat
conferences. also has been a big
exporter, although that country's
crop this year is considerably below
average.
Meanwhile, makeup of the Soviet
delegation brought comment from
one high official in international
agriculture matters that the Rus
slams appear to mean business in
this conference"
Transport Expert Heads Group.
Leader Of the four man group is
Sergei A. Borisov. deputy minister
Of foreign trade for the Soviet
Union and an expert on transpor-
tation problems. Others are Mikhail
v Lavrichenko, who was head OBJ
server at the 1945 Quebec confer
ence, which produced the Food and
Agriculture Organization; Pavel I.
Shchegula, who was chief of the
Soviet Purchasing Commission s
toodstuffs division here during the
war, and Sergei G.. Lukyanov, who
will act as secretary.
The United States delegation is
headed by Secretary of Agriculture
Brannan, with Undersecretary AL
bert j. Loveland as vice chairman.
Others are Edward c. Gale of the
State Department, Elmer F. Kruse
Of Agriculture's Commodity Credit
Corp, Loring K. Macy of the Com
merce Department. Fred j. Rossiter
of the Office of Foreign Agricultural
Relations and Leroy K Smith Of the
Production and Marketing Admins
tration, both of Agriculture.
Heads of delegations were to meet
IN executive session, prior to the 3
pm. plenary session, to map out an
agenda. All sessions are being held
IN the State Department interna-
tional conference rooms, 1775 Penn
sylvania avenue NV.
Countries Represented.
The complete list of countries rep
resented in the talks follows:
Argentina. Australia, Belgium, Bo-
iivia, Brazil, Ceylon, Costa Rica,
Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba,
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Domini-
can Republic, Egypt, Ell Salvador,
Ethiopia, Finland, France, India,
Iran, Ireland, Italy. Lebanon. Lii
IBERIA, Luxembourg, Mexico, Neither
lands, New Zealand, Norway, Mic
aragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru,
Philippines, Paraguay, Poland, Por-
tugal, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland,
Syria, the Soviet Union, Turkey, the
Union of South Africa, Sweden, the
United Kingdom, Uruguay and the
United States.
At 6 pm. today the State Depart
nnent will play host to the delegates
ct reception in the Carlton Hotel.
: Delegates are expected to lose
little time in getting down to the
business of working out an agree
ment. There was no indication Of
how long the negotiations will con-
tinue.
While not eligible to send dele
gates, the FAC and the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund are repre-
sented by observers. FAC is inter-
ested particularly in the Soviet and
Argentine participation in the talks.
Neither country is a member of the
world food planning body, although
President Truman and others have
Attended invationS for them tn ioir,