Evening star., 1961-01-25
.Food-for-Peace
Plan Expanded
ByKennedy 4
BY GARNETT d. HORNER
star staff Writer

frcSloeuL AeIlueQy l1LeIlQS 70
make Americas surplus farm
production "a more useful in
strument Of our foreign policy"
through an expanded food-for-
peace program.
He outlined objectives Of the
program in a memorandum to
the heads Of all Government
departments and agencies late
yesterday calling upon them to
give full support and cooper
alton" to George McGovern
director Of the food-for-peace
program.
The President also issued an
executive order which trans
ferred to Mr.. McGovern the re-
sponsibilities for directing 6
disposal Of surplus farm prod
ucts that had been exercised by
the Agriculture and State De-
partments.
Memorandum
His memorandum to all Gov
ernment agency heads said:
American agricultural abund.
ance offers a great opportunity
for the United States to pro-
mote the interests of peace in a
significant way and to play an
important role in helping to
provide o more adequate diet
for peoples all around the
world.
I'VE must make the most
vigorous and constructive use
possible Of this opportunity
We must narrow the gap be-
tween abundance here at home
and near-starvation abroad.
Humanity and prudence. alike,
counsel a major effort on our
part"
Explaining his executive Or
der. Mr.. Kennedy added that
coordination Of many Govern
ment activities relating to over
seas movement Of American
farm products must be central
lied so that they can become
more meaningful-a more use
full instrument Of our foreign
policy, and more efficient"
He. said he will look to Mr..
McGovern, working under his
direction and with the Secre-
tary Of State and Agriculture
in particular. ito exercise affir-
NATIVE leadership and continu-
Gus supervision over the var
ious activities in this field"
Mr.. Kennedy directed Mr..
McGovern to review all such
activities and recommend ways
for improving them.
Gets Special Report
At the same time, his press
office made public a report Of
a special committee named
several weeks, ago by Mr.. Ken
nedy, making various recon-
mendations Of its own for ex-
pansion Of the surplus diSpo-
sal program.
mfr. McGovern, Q former
Democratic Congressman from
South Dakota. met with the
President at the White House
to receive the committee re-
port. a
The group recommended q
new policy approach to shift
emphasis from disposing Of
uiiwanted American farm sur
pluses to 0 positive food-for-
peace program.
It suggested that it may be
necessary to bring about sEifts
in production from wheat and
corn into the oils and fats and
proteins food needed for a nu-
tritional diet" to help meet hu-
man needs around the world.
The committee recommended
Q five-year extension Of the
Surplus Food Disposal Act. and
increasing authorization for
sales Of American surplus
farm commodities for local
currencies abroad rather than
dollars to So billion o year.
It also urged that $500 mil
lion a year be provided over a
five-year period for grants Of
surplus commodities to meet
famine or other emergency re-
lief requirements in friendly
foreign countries. ~
Among other things, it rec
commended that some foods be
sold under 40-year loans at 2
per cent interest, with repay
ment permitted in dollars,
goods, or services.