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1975/04/21 - President and John Hannah
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1534486
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1975/04/21 - President and John Hannah
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James M. Cannon Files (Ford Administration)
James Cannon's Meetings Files
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The original documents are located in Box 43, folder "1975/04/21 - President and John
Hannah" of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 43 of the James M. Cannon Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 19, 1975
MEETING WITH DR. JOHN HANNAH
April 21, 1975
Oval Office
12:45 a.m.
(15 minutes)
From: L. William Seidman
I.
PURPOSE
To review his work as Director-General of the World
Food Council.
II
BACKGROUND, PAETICIPANTS AND PRESS PLAN
A. Background: The World Food Conference, held in
Rome November 5-16, 1974, set in motion a series
of follow up activities and organizations to im-
plement its recommendations. Foremost among these
is the World Food Council, a high level, limited
membership U.N. organization charged with overall
review of follow up activities in all food policy
areas. The World Food Council has coordinating,
consultative, and advisory powers with respect to
food aid, investment, and other foreign agricul-
tural assistance. Members of the Council are nom-
inated by the U.N. Economic and Social Council and
elected by the U.N. General Assembly. The U.S. is
a member of the Council which plans to hold its
first meeting in June.
To assure high level focus and appropriate coordi-
nation within the U.S. Government in implementing
the resolutions passed by the World Food Confer-
ence an International Food Review Group was estab-
lished under the Chairmanship of Secretary Kissinger
and Vice Chairmanship of Secretary Butz.
The U.S. has taken the initiative in seeking agree-
ment on an international grain reserves system. At
the invitation of the U.S., an ad hoc group of eleven
cereal trading nations met in London in February
RALD 117 FORD
2
for preliminary discussions. At the conclusion
of those discussions a working group was formed
to work with the staff of the International Wheat
Council to study and analyze various options. The
working group is scheduled to reconvene in May to
review several technical studies.
B. Participants: Dr. John A. Hannah, L. William
Seidman.
C. Press Plan: David Kennerley.
III. DISCUSSION POINTS
A.
International Fund for Agricultural Development
Dr. Hannah will likely raise the subject of a
meeting of the International Fund for Agricul-
tural Development scheduled for Geneva on May 5-6.
NSC informs us that Dr. Hannah will probably at-
tempt to obtain your commitment to high level,
active U.S. participation in these consultations.
UN Secretary-General Waldheim has cabled Secre-
tary Kissinger requesting such participation,
pointing out that Dr. Hannah will be chairing the
meetings.
The new agricultural development fund was proposed
at the World Food Conference to receive voluntary
contributions and resources which could be disper-
sed to developing countries. The fund would come
into existence when the UN Secretary General, in
consultation with pledging countries, determines
that the fund holds promise of generating substan-
tial additional resources for development assis-
tance and that operations have a reasonable pros-
pect of continuity.
The U.S. opposed at the World Food Conference,
and continues to oppose, the establishment of a
new agricultural development fund on the ground
that while we support increased investment in
agricultural production in developing countries,
we believe that there are already sufficient exist-
ing multilateral channels for such assistance.
A new fund would further diffuse the resources
available and increase problems of coordination.
3
NSC suggests that we should not make any commit-
ment regarding the agricultural development fund
meetings at this time other than that we will
participate in the meetings. The U.S. has a
large and increasing bilateral program in agri-
cultural development and participates in several
established multilateral aid mechanisms which
have proven effective. We must study any addi-
tional commitment carefully to ensure our efforts
are being effectively coordinated.
The U.S. position at the World Food Conference,
where the Fund was first proposed, was that we
need more effective work in existing programs,
not new programs, and that the Fund would be a
valuable addition only if it was able to mobilize
OPEC resources. It would be useful to inquire
what progress has been made in committing OPEC
resources.
B. Possible Areas for Inquiry
1. How is the World Food Council proceeding to
ensure that its agricultural development
strategy will be consistent with free inter-
national trade in food products and access
to world markets by efficient producers?
2. What steps are being taken by the Council to
elicit broad participation by other advanced
countries in providing technical assistance
and by capital exporting countries in provid-
ing financing?
3. In what areas and how can the U.S. be more
helpful in addressing world food problems?
GERALD ? FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 17, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
MR. L. WILLIAM SEIDMAN
FROM:
WARREN RUSTAND
WSR
SUBJECT:
Approved Presidential Activity
Please take the necessary steps to implement the following and confirm
with Mrs. Nell Yates, ext. 2699. The appropriate briefing paper should
be submitted to Dr. David Hoopes by 4:00 p.m. of the preceding day.
Meeting:
Meeting with Dr. John Hannah
Date: Monday, April 21, Time: 12:45 p.m.
Duration:
15
Minutes
1975
Location:
The Oval Office
Press Coverage:
Meeting to be announced; Press Photo (if desired)
Purpose:
To allow Dr. Hannah to report on his work
as Director-General of the World Food Council
CC:
Mr. Hartmann
Mr. Marsh
Mr. Cheney
Dr. Connor
Dr. Hoopes
Mr. Jones
Mr. Nessen
Mr. O'Donnell
Mrs. Yates
General Scowcroft
Mr. Cannon
Mrs. Davis
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD