Evening star., 1949-11-20

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Are Issues Facing FAC
Farley Director Says
Director General N. E. Dodd Of
the Food and Agriculture Organ
ization last night asserted that
the So member governments open
ing their annual conference here
tomorrow must now face sQuarely
the issue Of poverty and MANU-
triton"
In q report to be submitted to
the delegates Of the United Ma
tions group meeting in the Shore
ham Hotel, Mr.. Dodd declared:
"At the end Of the war. govern
|ments solemnly undertook to at
tack Joint problems with joint
action. In the four annual ses-
sions OF the FAC conference we
have exchanged ideas. discussed
issues and measured the dimen-
sions of many problems.
"Of the NTH session. I ask ac-
ton. We must make great deci-
sions commensurate with the
worlds great needs"
Mr.. Dodd said that while last
years harvests in the Northern
Hemisphere has turned the tide
against "acute" world food short
ages, food output is failing to keep
pace with population growth.
Greater Supplies Needed.
Everywhere except in the West
ern Hemisphere. food available to
each person remains less than be-
fore the war, the report stated.
II living standards are to be
raised, food supplies must increase
faster than population.
President Truman plans to ad-
dress plenary session Of the con-
ference Tuesday at $3.50 pm.
White House Press Secretary
Charles G. Ross said yesterday
Mr.. Truman would make a "brief,
informal" speech.
The following questions are ex-
pected to come before the confer
ence during its more than TWO
weeks of deliberations:
l. How Mr.. Truman's technical
assistance program to under
developed countries can be carried
forward in food and agriculture.
Expanded Trade Urged.
2. How to clear the way for ex-
banded trade in agricultural
goods, overcoming currency bar
riers and production restrictions.
3. What action to take, II any.
on the proposed international
Commodity Clearing House, which
would attempt to get surpluses
into the hands of deficit countries
through a 81, ,00o, ,000. 1000 revolving
fund.
1. A decision on the long
delayed selection of q permanent
headquarters for FAC.
The proposed commodity clear
ing house wound buy and sell sur
plus commodities offered by pro-
ducing areas. Transactions would
be made either at special cut-rate
prices or regular commercial
prices. Countries able to pay In
acceptable or convertible cur
rencies would get the surpluses at
the special prices.
Countries paying In presently
Iunconvertible currency would pay
the regular price. The clearing
house would hold such currencies
to the credit Of producing coun-
tries until increasing world trade
and restored convertibility Of
currencies permitted gradual
clearing Of the accounts.
u. s. Attitude Important.
Just how far Mr.. Dodd will get
with his plan will depend largely
on the attitude of the United
States. While the United States
position is not expected to be dis
closed for several days, officials
have indicated it will be none too
favorable.
It is not that this Government
is not anxious to help make its
surpluses useful in raising world
living standards. But it is said to
fear that the plan would become.
in effect, another loan program
which would increase already
heavy debts Of shortage areas.
BY contrast, the United States,
through the Marshal Plan, is try
ing to help many shortage areas
to get back on a self-sustaining
basis by increasing their own pro-
duction.
A site at the University of
Maryland has been considered for
the FAO's permanent home for
some time. However. site COM
mittee of the FAO's Council is re-
ported to favor. among the vari-
GUS possibilities in the Washington
area, q 16-acre location just across
the District line in Maryland, near
Dalecarlia Reservoir.
The council, meeting here last
week In advance Of the confer
ence. made it clear that prompt
action must be taken on the site
question.
Spain To Be Considered.
The conference formally opens
at II am. tomorrow with a ple-
nary session presided over by Mr..
Dodd. BY Wednesday, the dele