151. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions0
353. Ref: Tokyo CW 8841 May 4, 1962.1 Others CW 9447 May 5 [25], 1962.2 Unless you see overriding objection to the contrary, please approach immediately highest appropriate government official and urge government make substantial pledge to World Food Program at Pledging Conference scheduled New York September 5, 1962. Inform said official that United States plans to pledge three year program, including $40 million in commodities and $4 million in shipping serv-ices, both at world market prices. In addition United States will pledge, subject to matching provisions and Congressional action set out below, $6 million in cash, which may be reduced to $5 million to the extent that additional shipping services are required. Cash pledge is subject to availability of appropriated funds. Cash pledge will also be subject to matching formula similar to that governing United States contributions to UN Special Fund and ETAP wherein United States contribution is managed so as not to exceed 40% of total. USG hopes other countries will likewise make equally generous contributions, thus avoiding any review of our own cash pledge.
FYI. United States pledge will also be accompanied by the condition that USG will have to give prior approval in each individual case where United States commodities, services or cash are used for a World Food Program project.3 This condition is necessary to avoid use of our contribution in countries and programs currently proscribed by legislative or administrative directives. FAO should be informed of this condition, [Page 327] but it is not necessary to so inform other governments since this condition is not expected to result in any curtailment of our pledge once that pledge is approved by Congress.4
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 800.03/8-2962. Official Use Only; Priority. Drafted by Nathaniel McKitterick (IO/OES) on August 28; cleared by Richard H. Roberts (Agriculture) in substance, David Richardson (AID), Frank K. Hefner (IO/OIA), Charles M. Hill (EUR), and Louise McNutt (FE); and approved by Harlan Cleveland (IO). Sent to Paris, London, Bonn, Rome (Embassy and FODAG), and Tokyo. For background on U.S. policy toward multilateral world surplus food programs in 1961, see the memorandum from L.D. Battle to McGeorge Bundy, October 28, 1961, and McGovern’s memorandum to Secretary Rusk, November 2, 1961, both in the Supplement.↩
- This instruction, sent to Embassies in FAO member countries, asked officers in charge to hold consultations with the governments to which they were accredited regarding prospective pledges to the World Food Program, unless they felt an approach at this time might be counterproductive. (Department of State, Central Files, 800.03/5-462)↩
- This instruction, a slightly revised text of CW-8841, was sent to all Western European posts (including Reykjavik, Dublin, Vienna, and Belgrade), except Athens and Helsinki. (Ibid., 800.03/5-2562)↩
- At the United Nations/FAO Pledging Conference for the World Food Program, held at U.N. Headquarters in New York on September 5, the United States pledged the amounts specified in this telegram along with a number of reservations. See Yearbook of the United Nations, 1962, pp. 238-239.↩
- According to a letter from Secretary of Agriculture Freeman to Cleveland, October 15, leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees deleted Title V of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962 (enacted September 27, 1962), which would have given the Department of Agriculture explicit authority to participate in the World Food Program, and refrained from further denial of such authority under Title II of P.L. 480 and other legislation only after Freeman’s personal assurance “that the Department of Agriculture would be the primary point of contact, in cooperation with the State Department, between our Government and the World Food Council.” (Department of State, Central Files, 800.03/10-1562)↩