Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume IX, International Development and Economic Defense Policy; Commodities

119. Memorandum From the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (Bell) to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Mann)¹

Washington, April 14, 1966.

SUBJECT

• DAC Program on the World Food Problem

Pursuant to a U.S. initiative the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD met in Paris on April 4–5 to discuss the world food problem and the attention it might be given within the DAC forum.² The meeting was quite successful.

The U.S. proposal that the DAC High Level Meeting this July give top priority to the food problem was accepted. This proposal received strong support from most of the other delegations as well as from a senior representative of the FAO. Only the French resisted it. Although the British questioned somewhat the seriousness and urgency of the problem and what DAC could do about it, they agreed to the high level emphasis, and indeed successfully proposed establishment of a special group to prepare for it.

The preparatory group will work up appropriate materials on the food problem and formulate a DAC work program for submission to the high level meeting. The group is to be “self-elected,” that is, it will include delegations which are interested in serving, and will name its own chairman. The work will be done mainly by the OECD Secretariat, with assistance from country delegations, FAO, IBRD, etc. A wisemen group is not to be established, at least at the present time.

It is hoped that both Dr. Sen, Director General of the FAO, and George Woods will attend and address the high level meeting. While the world food problem will be given top priority, the meeting of course will also take up other matters such as the annual report of the DAC Chairman.

Prospects

1. In CEDTO 968 dated April 8 (attached),³ Ambassador Trezise made a strong plea to hold the July 8 high level meeting in Washington rather than in Paris as is customary. He feels that a Washington meeting would be the most effective way to (a) ensure attendance of key political leaders and obtain their consensus of the gravity of the problem; (b) dramatize U.S. humanitarian concern and leadership; (c) commit DAC members to greater and more coordinated efforts; and (d) inject the DAC with new vigor and purpose.

The President has turned this proposal down once. My own feeling is uncertain on this point. I would be agreeable to having the meeting in Washington if that is deemed necessary to get high level U.S. participation. On the other hand, there is much to be said for convincing the Europeans on their home ground. If we want to give the meeting high level attention, we can do it in Paris as well as here. In any case, I suggest that we leave this matter as it stands until Ambassador Trezise comes to Washington for consultations during the first week in May.

2. More important than the location of the meeting is a clear understanding of what we hope to achieve by it. I think we might well aim for the following:

a. A reaffirmation of the importance of the food problem and of the essential role of agricultural development in the development process. The resolution, or recommendation on which the OECD Ministers would act, could recommend to DAC members that agricultural development and food aid as appropriate be accorded higher priority in their respective assistance programs. At the same time, it could call on aid receiving countries to recognize the need for faster rates of growth in agricultural productivity and a shift of development priorities in favor of food producers.

b. In conjunction with other organizations, DAC could very usefully survey the prospective supply of fertilizer and other basic inputs in relation to rising requirements. The DAC Secretariat, possibly with some outside assistance, can do this kind of analysis and DAC members can make a real contribution.

c. Given the importance of the problem and the need for sustained efforts, the DAC should agree to establish a permanent group on the Food Problem which would maintain contact with FAO, IBRD consortiums and consultative groups, regional bodies and banks, and other agencies concerned and report to DAC ministers annually on policies and progress. Ambassador Trezise has proposed this in his cable of April 8. Commitments of aid and self-help action would continue to be made through normal bilateral channels and coordinating mechanisms such as consortia and consultative groups. However, the DAC, acting through the permanent group, could play a valuable catalytic role.

DEB

1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 286, AID Administrator Files: FRC 69 A 1866, PRM 7–1, Development Assistance Committee, FY 1966. Confidential.
2. An earlier summary and discussion of this U.S. initiative is in Current Economic Developments, Issue No. 749, March 29, 1966, pp. 8–10. (Washington National Records Center, RG 59, E/CBA/REP Files: FRC 72 A 6248, Current Economic Developments).
3. Not printed.