149 Brigden to Department of External Affairs
Cablegram 360 WASHINGTON, 27 March 1946
IMMEDIATE SECRET
U.N.R.R.A. COUNCIL
1. On food the Council will probably accept a compromise between- (A) The administration and the receiving countries and (B) in other countries, recommending action by all Governments.
[1]
Most of this action is now taken in Australia, but the recommendation will also require full information as to export and reasons for particular decisions. My view at present is that the less said the better to reduce argument, but a system may be worked out later by supplying countries.
2. For Australia this recommendation would require in the first place reasons for a decision to send no more than the 25,000 tons of wheat to U.N.R.R.A. in China, as reported by the Director General publicly last week. The recommendation will apply to all of our exports of wheat, flour, rice and fats.
3. It still remains to be decided whether the Council must meet specifically within a few weeks to renew action taken. Our view is that the Committee on Supplies [2] is adequate, but some compromise is likely.
4. The Central Committee must continue with the subject. Subject to your instructions I would resist any International Authority over Australian exports, whether through an enlarged Combined Food Board or otherwise. [3]
5. I see no advantage in belonging to the Combined Food Board, involving Australia in compromises over allocations of United States of America Food to the various occupied zones, on which U.N.R.R.A. is very sensitive, but this can be decided later.
6. On China, Jackson is not surprised that we are dissatisfied.