Evening star., 1949-11-30
Rome Site for FAC
Poses Problem Due
To Cost Of Moving
By MoIcoIm Lomborne, Jr.

By MoIcoIm Lomborne, Jr.
Rome as headquarters for the
Food and Agriculture Organiza-
ton today appeared farther away
than ever, as delegates OF the
United Nations agency meeting
in the Shoreham Hotel took q
second look at their action of
Monday night naming the Italian
city as their choice.
In the hard light Of the day
after, Director General N. E. Dodd
made clear to the FAC scommis-
sion concerned with financial
matters that it will require at
least 81, 500, 900 to make the move
from Washington.
Then he dropped a small bomb
shell with a proposal that the
best way to raise the money would
be to increase the annual contri-
buttons of the 81 member nations.
The commission at a session this
morning made the first move to-
ward effecting savings in the PAO
budget. It voted to recommend
to the full conference that here
after 1t meet every two years
rather than annually.
Cuban Sees Contradiction.
The dilemma in which the dele
gates now find themselves was
aptly summed up by Enrique
Perez z-Cisneron. Cuban delegate.
He declared: 1T will be strange
if, after we have voted to move
to Rome to save money. we
ask our governments for addition
al contributions to finance the
move"
One Of the strong arguments
In favor Of the Rome site was
an FAC committee report that
a great deal would be saved by
moving to a "soft-currency" coun-.
try.
Mr.. Dodd. however, declared
that other major problems would
be posed by a provision Of the
FAC constitution that annual
contributions should be paid in
the currency Of the nation in
which the headquarters is located
in this case. Italian lire.
Loan for Move Considered.
Several experts Of the FAC
secretariat warned against draw
ing on the agency's working capi-
tai to finance the move, stressing
this would seriously curtail FAOs
various programs in many coun-
tries.
Without mentioning any coun-
try specifically. Dr.. B. r. Sen.
chairman Of the commission,
raised the question Of FAC get
ting q loan to pay for the move.
He noted that q loan had been
proposed for q building for the
agency and that perhaps 4 simi-
lar arrangement could be worked
out for the moving problem. The
United States had been prepared
to make q loan up to $1,000. 900
for q site here or in New York.
The delegate Of Egypt observed
that, II the United States would
be kind enough to advance its
contribution for 1851 now, then
this would solve the problem 1t
once.
May Reopen Question.
The commission agreed to bring
the matter before another plen-
ary session of the conference. In
some quarters this was seen as
reopening the entire site ques-
ton. although the chances Of the
overruling its Monday
night vote were considered dim
for the time being.
Meanwhile, work continued on
the controversial international
Commodity Clearing House idea.
designed to make surplus foods
available to deficit nations
through an initial $1,000, ,000, 900
fund. Additional support for the
plan, which Is not looked on with
favor by the United States, came
from three quarters yesterday.
President William Green Of the
AFL cabled from London to Ag-
riculture Secretary Brannan, urg-
ing his delegation to take . stand
in favor Of the plan. Others ask
ing for Endorsement were Charles
M. LaFollette, chairman Of Ameri-
cans for Democratic Action, and
Clarence Pickett, executive secre-
tary Of the Friends Service Com
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