Evening star., 1949-01-23
50-Nation Conference
Slated Here 10 Draft
World Wheat Pact
By Malcolm Lomborne, Jr.

by moICoim LompoIhe, Jr.
Representatives of more than so
countries will make a fresh start
here wednesday on drawing up an
international agreement to stabilize
the price and supply Of wheat for
the next Ave years.
For the first time, the Soviet
Union, a major wheat producing
country, will participate.
Argentina, an important wheat ex-
porter, also will send delegation.
Argentina did not take an active
part in last years wheat negotia-
tions here. Thirty-six countries
signed wheat pact last March, but
1t collapsed, principally because Of
failure Of the 80th Congress to ratify
the treaty.
Russias plans to send four Imam
delegation were transmitted here
yesterday from the American En-
bassy in Moscow, which was notified
by the Soviet Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Argentina announced last
week it will be represented by Juan
Scarpati, economic counselor at the
Embassy here.
Invited By Truman.
Action Of the two countries in de-
Gliding to join with others in dis
cussing this important agricultural
commodity recalled President Tru-
mans invitation to Russia and
Argentina to join the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization.
In an address before a 56-nation
FAC conference in The Shoreham
Hotel last November, the President
declared: Il think that if we could
discuss with the Russians our
mutual interest in agriculture. it
would not be so difficult to discuss
our differences in other fields"
Secretary Of Agriculture Brannan,
who is expected to head the Ameri-
can delegation to the wheat talks,
declared last night he was pleased
to hear the news" Of Soviet partic-
tpation. He said 1t would "fit into
the assertion OF President Truman
in his inaugural address that we
want to cooperate on multilateral
basis and added that this Is one
of the most important occasions to
do So"
Halls Soviet Decision.
Mr.. Brannan, noting that Russia
Is one of the largest wheat pro-
ducers in the world, declared that
the international wheat pact CON
templates a worldwide approach
to the problem of stabilizing wheat"
Sir Herbert Broadley, deputy di-
rector general Of the FAC, described
the Soviet announcement as quite
an encouraging move" He said 1T
might indicate that, the Russians
are coming to realize 1t Is better
to participate in such meetings"
than to remain aloof.
Sir Herbert said 1t may open the
way for Russia to join the world
food planning agency. He, too, re-
called Mr.. Truman's address "
which the President said, II wish
the Soviet Union also would join
the FAC"
Some sources speculated on
whether Russia had decided to par
ticipate in the conference for propa-
ganda purposes-as q demonstra-
ton to the world that the Soviet
wanted to cooperate on an inter-
national basis.
VarKa Criticism Recalled.
1t was recalled that shortly after
the wheat agreement of last March
was signed, Eugene Varga, q leading
Russian economist and former d.
rector OF the Institute of World
Economy and Politics, criticized the
United States for driving what he
said was hard bargain in the pact.
Since then. however, Mr.. Varga
appears TO have fallen into disfavor.
In December the official organ Of
the Soviet State Planning Commis-
sion criticized him for wrongly pre-
dieting depression in this country.
Last years agreement called for
the United States to export 1875 ,000,-
900 bushels of wheat year for five
years. The ceiling price was set at
50 bushel and the floor price at
$3.50 the first year. The floor price
was to decline 10 cents yearly to
$l.1u Ill IIlc 1lllIl year.
Mr.. Truman has made it clear he
favors a new agreement and has
predicted the new Congress would
act favorably on q pact.
Price Debate Expected.
The conference, which formally
opens at 8 pm. Wednesday in the
State Department international
conference room, 1778 Pennsylvania
avenue NV, is expected to produce
considerable debate on the subject
Of prices.
Major wheat importing countries,
which include the United Kingdom,
are certain to press for lower price
ranges because world wheat prices
have declined since the last agree
ment was drawn.
The United States, Canada and
Australia, major exporters, are ex-
pected to join in advocating no de-
crease from the old price ranges.
Mr.. Brannan indicated at a recent
press conference that an even higher
price than 81 a bushel may be pro-
posed by this country because Of
higher production costs.
Argentina Crop Reduced.
There will be considerable inter-
est in what position Russia and
Argentina will take in the matter.
Argentinas wheat crop is reported
to have been cut q third by ad-
verse weather and may not be an
important factor in wheat export
ing, at least for this year. Russia
supplies some wheat to satellite
countries but has not figured prom
inently in wheat exports since the
war.
The United States invited 81
countries to the conference. At the
close of business yesterday, the
State Department had received ac-
ceptances from 80 and looked for
additional acceptances in the next
few days.
Officials would not predict how
long the conference would run.
Last years negotiations took nearly
two months. 1t was pointed out,
however, that the framework for a
new pact remained and may cut
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