two years' consumption. In 1945 the Governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Union of South Africa transferred accumulated stocks of Dominion-grown wool owned by the United Kingdom to joint ownership and established a "Joint Organization," and wool auctions were re-established in the Dominions and in the United Kingdom. In March 1946 President Truman initiated action which led to consultation with the United Kingdom regarding the organization of an international wool conference to consider the present and prospective world-apparel wool situation. Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, India, Italy, New Zealand, Union of South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay attended this conference and observers were present from the United Nations and the Joint Organization. MEMBERSHIP The Wool Study Group is comprised of representatives of those countries which are substantially interested in the production, consumption, or trade in wool. Those represented at the October 1948 meeting were Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Yugoslavia. PURPOSES, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS The Wool Study Group, under its terms of reference, is empowered "to make such studies of the world wool position as its sees fit, having regard especially to the desirability of providing continuous, accurate information regarding the supply and demand position and its probable development, making use of existing sources so far as practicable." In carrying out this function, the Group is to take into account the desirability of measures designed to stimulate the world consumption of wool and to consider possible solutions to any problems or difficulties which are unlikely to be resolved by the ordinary development of world trade in wool. The Group is to arrange for the periodic collection of necessary statistics, using existing sources so far as practicable and it may formulate and transmit recommendations to participating governments. The Group is to function for such periods as, in the opinion of the participating governments, it continues to serve the purpose for which it is designed. Information assembled by the Study Group is to be made available to members, and other interested governments are to be kept informed of the studies and the result of discussions so far as practicable. STRUCTURE The Group has an appointed Technical Committee and is authorized to establish a secretariat to perform the necessary statistical and secretarial work. Until the present time, however, such a secretariat has not been established because the United Kingdom Government has provided clerical assistance and makes the necessary arrangements for conferences which are held at times and places mutually convenient to the members. A special subcommittee on a wool agreement has been dissolved. The official languages are English and French. The present secretary of the group is Angus Smart. FINANCES Members of the Wool Study Group agree to contribute to the necessary expenses on a basis to be mutually determined. No action has yet been taken involving contributions by members, because the United Kingdom Government has provided the secretariat services. UNITED STATES RELATIONS Authorization. The United States participates in the Wool Study Group under the Executive authority for participation in international conferences. Payments. There are no assessments against members. Agencies Chiefly Concerned. The Departments of State, Agriculture, and Commerce are primarily concerned with the activities of the Wool Study Group. Participation. United States representatives are designated for each meeting of the Group and participate as full members with voting rights. RELATIONS WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The Wool Study Group has established informal working relations with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Organization for European Economic Cooperation and has worked out a method for the exchange of information and statistics, thus avoiding duplication. Representatives of the FAO, the Department of Economic Affairs of United Nations and the United KingdomDominion Wool Disposals Ltd. attend Wool Study Group meetings. as observers. The Interim Coordinating Committee on International Commodity Arrangements is entitled to representation at meetings of the International Wool Study Group and maintains a general liaison relationship. BASIC TEXTS AND PUBLICATIONS Department of State Bulletin, November 24, 1946, p. 942. "Statement by Heads of Delegations to International Wool Talks." Covers resolutions of talks held at London, November 11-15, 1946. December 29, 1946, pp. 1163-1164. "Report on the International Wool Talks" May 18, 1947, pp. 987-989. "First International Wool Study Group Meeting." Rubber Study Group Brettenham House, 5-6 Lancaster Place, Strand, London, England ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT In September 1944 a Rubber Study Group was established by the Governments of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to serve as an advisory body on matters of common concern. The group was formed after informal discussions among the three Governments and without a formal agreement. The fact that the Rubber Study Group includes consuming as well as producing countries and that it is advisory only, differentiates the Group from earlier international media designed to deal with international problems affecting rubber. Earlier arrangements, such as the Stevenson Plan of 1922-28 (applicable only to British Territory) and the International Rubber Regulations Agreement of 193442,10 to which the United States was not a party, were limited in membership to producing countries and were regulatory in character. MEMBERSHIP The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States were the original members of the Rubber Study Group. France was represented at the second meeting of the Group, and at the third meeting it was decided to offer membership to all countries substantially interested in the production, consumption of, or trade in rubber. By April 1949, Australia, Belgium, the British Colonies, Burma, Canada, Ceylon, 10 World Rubber and Its Regulation, by K. E. Knorr, Stanford University Press, Stanford University, Calif., Commodity Policy Study No. 6; Publication of Food and Research Institute. Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Liberia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States had joined the Group. PURPOSE, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS The purpose of the organization is to promote international cooperation concerning international trade in rubber. The Group is authorized under its terms of reference to make such studies of the world rubber position as it sees fit, to consider measures designed to expand world consumption of rubber, to consider how best to deal with any difficulties which may exist or may be expected to arise, and to submit reports and recommendations on the subject to the participating governments. STRUCTURE The Study Group has a Management Committee and a secretariat. The Management Committee, composed at present of the British Colonies, Ceylon, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, appoints a secretary, prepares the budget, and supervises the work of the secretariat. The secretariat publishes statistical reports, prepares special reports at the request of the Management Committee, serves as a link between member governments, makes preparations for meetings, and maintains liaison with other international organizations. A meeting is called whenever the participating governments consider that it would be useful. In each instance a chairman and a vice chairman are selected; usually the leader of the host delegation is chosen as chairman. Meetings are conducted and confidential conference documents are prepared in both French and English. The present secretary of the Group is A. Guy Pawson. FINANCES Budget. The approved budget of the organization for each of the fiscal years 1949 and 1940, amounted to £10,000 ($40,325). Expenditures are financed entirely by contributions from member governments. Members' Quotas. At its fourth meeting, the Group decided that all members should pay a flat subscription of £500 a year, and that if the total sum of these subscriptions should fall short of the amount required for the annual budget, the balance should be paid by member governments in proportion to their rubber production or consumption (whichever is greater) in the calendar year preceding the budget year in question. The following table shows member assessments for the fiscal year 1950: Authorization. United States participation in the Group is authorized by Executive authority to participate in international conferences. Payments. The United States contribution is paid from funds appropriated to the Department of State. Its contribution for the fiscal year 1950 was £1,434 ($5,783); for the fiscal year 1949, £1,805 ($7,279); and for the fiscal year 1948, £3,646 ($14,703). Agencies Chiefly Concerned. The Departments of State and Commerce, the Munitions Board, and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation have been primarily concerned with the work of this Group. Participation. The United States Representative is appointed for each meeting and serves as a full participating member with vote. The United States, as a major rubber consumer, was active in the establishment of this Group. RELATIONS WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The International Coordinating Committee on International Commodity Arrangements is entitled to representation at meetings of the Rubber Study Group and maintains a general liaison relationship. BASIC TEXTS AND PUBLICATIONS Rubber Statistical Bulletin, London, Monthly. Rubber News Sheet, London, Monthly. Authorized distribution of the Bulletin and the News Sheet for the United States: Rubber Age, 250 West 57th St., NYC. |