McCarthy, Cutler

Cablegrams 1580, 6194, 422 CANBERRA, 11 November 1946

Your 1528-World Food Board. [1]

1. Policy of Australian Government as set out in instructions to
delegation at New York, repeated in House last week by Minister
for External Affairs [2], is that there should be no further
growth of independent or in any respect separate organisations. It
is not enough that the proposed Board is attached to F.A.0. and in
that way related to Economic and Social Council. [3]

2. At Hot Springs Australian delegation had provision inserted
giving F.A.0. power to recommend conventions (see Article IV
Section 3 of the Constitution). F.A.0. also has power to consider
commodity arrangements (Article 1 Section 2(f)). In the Minister's
second reading speech he said 'There are ... implied obligations
which will arise out of the powers of the organisations to make
recommendations and to refer conventions to Governments. The
success of international organisations such as ... this proposed
Food and Agriculture organisation depends on the intention of
Governments to make them work by carrying out wherever possible
their recommendations and conventions.' [4]

3. This procedure of recording conventions is one we desire to see
adopted. F.A.0. is controlling body and particular administration
set up to assist carry out convention if adopted is matter for
F.A.0. Thus there is no need for separate organisation of any
description.

4. You should press this point of view at this stage. Australia is
not member of Economic and Social Council and consequently will
have no opportunity of putting view there.

5. Please pass copy of this telegram to Tange with whom you should
consult. [5]