STUDY OF OFFICE OF FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL

RELATIONS

INTERIM REPORT

For the past several years it has become increasingly apparent that because of the greatly enlarged significance of agriculture in our international relationships and because of the impact of such relationships upon domestic agriculture and the welfare of the Nation as a whole, the agency responsible for our foreign agricultural policies. and for coordinating such policies with domestic agricultural policies needs strengthening. For that reason, the Committee on Agriculture early in the second session of the Eighty-first Congress began a study of the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations of the Department of Agriculture, to determine how that agency could more nearly meet the responsibilities consonant with the position of agriculture today.

As a part of this study, the committee conducted hearings on February 9 and 22, 1950, at which times it heard at considerable length from the Director and other top officials of the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations. From such officials the committee received a broad analysis of the functions of the agency, together with a frank appraisal of such functions, and the views of such officials with respect to the limitations on the authority of the agency which tend to interfere with its effectiveness.

A subcommittee in the fall of 1950 also visited the following countries: Ireland, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Yugoslavia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Spain, Portugal, and Mexico, and in each of said countries conferred with the agricultural attachés in such countries, as well as with the agricultural ministers and other key officials of the countries visited.

After conferring with our agricultural attachés abroad, and after making on-the-spot studies of situations in the different countries visited and appraising the efforts and capabilities of our representatives, members of the subcommittee concluded that in some countries American agriculture was very ably represented by conscientious individuals, and in other countries we did not have adequate representation. The staffs did not appear adequate to take care of the situation regardless of how competent such staffs might be.

Members of the subcommittee who visited these countries are of the opinion that some of our agricultural attachés do not appreciate fully the importance of the work to be performed or their responsibilities in performing such work. Some of them seem to have lost sight of the importance of export markets for agricultural commodities. While members of the subcommittee, of course, appreciate the fact that such agricultural attachés are not supposed to be supersalesmen or even salesmen in the ordinary sense and meaning of the word,

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they do believe that such attachés should be at all times keenly aware of the importance of our foreign markets and should in turn furnish the Secretary of Agriculture and his associates with all pertinent and vital information concerning such export markets and the trends and consumption in American-grown agricultural commodities. Members of the subcommittee were also impressed with the fact that many of our agricultural attachés abroad apparently do not understand fully the philosophy, the objectives and purposes, and the operations of our farm program and, therefore, do not advise the officials and citizens of other countries concerning such matters. There is a definite misunderstanding abroad of the operations of our farm program. Citizens in other countries have been led to believe that America is wasting, burning, and destroying vital food, and no one seems to tell the true story, to the end that the peoples of other countries might know that in fact we have processed and preserved our surplus commodities, in the hope that all of them might ultimately be consumed by the human family. This lack of understanding among the citizens of other countries has generated and prompted an unkind feeling toward our Government, notwithstanding our generosity as evidenced by the many magnanimous programs which we have carried on and financed. Our agricultural attachés abroad should be familiar with every part and parcel of the farm program and should avail themselves of every opportunity to publicize its purposes and importance. After the study had been concluded abroad and our embassies and attachés had been visited, members of the subcommittee conferred with officials of the State Department and with officials of the Department of Agriculture, and particularly with officials of the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations, and emphasized the importance of the matters herein mentioned, specifically recommending certain changes in personnel and policies and emphasizing the need for more competent representation in some of the important countries visited. The subcommittee believes that the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations, both at home and abroad, should be strengthened and broadened, staffed and financed, to the end that it might become a more important factor and make a greater contribution to the cause of American agriculture and to the welfare of our country.

As a result of the investigation by the committee, the Department of State and the Department of Agriculture are now attempting to resolve some of the problems on administration between the two Departments, with particular reference to the foreign agricultural attachés and the relationships of such attachés with the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations in the Department of Agriculture.

To aid in obtaining a clear understanding of the nature of the problem involved, there follows a brief history of the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations.

The origin of the foreign agricultural work goes back to the establishment of the Department of Agriculture in 1862. Since that time there has always been a unit in the Department having the responsibility for collecting, interpreting, and disseminating information regarding factors in other countries of the world affecting United States agriculture and for appraising foreign competition and the demand for domestic agricultural products. The primary objective at all times has been to encourage and promote the agriculture of the United States and to formulate programs to assist American farm