SUCCESS BEYOND HOPES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 217, 9 June 1943, Page 5

SUCCESS BEYOND HOPES

United Nations Food Conference ROOSEVELT’S REVIEW (British Official Wireless.) (Received June 8, 7.20 p.m.) RUGBY, June 7. President Roosevelt at the WfiiVe House tonight addressed delegates to the recently-concluded United Nations conference on food and agriculture. The speech was broadcast throughout the United States, Describing, the conference as “epoch making,” the President said: “The conference could, not have failed to be significant because it was the first United Nations’ conference. It succeeded beyond hopes. It was truly epoch making, because in reaching unanimity on complex difficulties and problems you demonstrated beyond question that the United Nations really are united, not only for the prosecution of the war, but for the solution of the many difficulties arid problems of peace. "The conference has been a living demonstration of the method by which conversations of nations of like mind can and will give practical application to the principles of the Atlantic Charter. You have been dealing with agriculture, the most basic of all human activities, and food, the most basic of human needs. Twice as mauy people are employed iu work on food and agriculture as in work in all the other fields combined. “You have stated in your declaration that the ‘primary responsibility lies with each nation for seeing that its own people have the food needed for health and life; steps to this end are for national determination. But each nation can fully achieve this goal only if all work together.’ On behalf of the United States, I accept that declaration. You have gone beyond general recognition of principles to deal in specific terms with specific tasks and projects. You have examined the needs of all countries for food and other agricultural products, both as they will exist in the short-run period of recovery from, the devastation of teh war and over a longer run when efforts can be fully devoted to expanding the production of food so that it will be adequate for health the world over. You have surveyed with courage'and realism the magnitude of these problems and have reached unanimous agreement that they can, must and will be solved.

Developing World Resources. “No nation has ever had enough food to feed all its people as we now , know human beings should be fed. Neither have nations representing more than 80 per cent, of the world’s inhabitants ever before been joined together to achieve such an aim. Never before have they set out to bend their united efforts to develop world resources so that all men might spek to attain the food they need. For the short run, you have pointed out the steps which have to be taken, both for increasing supplies and maintaining economy of use and co-ordination of distribution. “Considering the long-range problem, you have' surveyed the knowledge of inadequacies in quantity and quality of the diet of the *people of all lands. You have pooled your knowledge of the means of expanding output, incieasing agricultural efficiency and adjusting agricultural production to consumption needs. “In the fields of both production and consumption, you have recognized the needs for better utilization of the knowledge we now have and for extending still further the boundaries of that knowledge through education and research. . You called on the Governments, individually and collectively, to enlarge and improve their activities in these fields. For the perfection and rapid execution of these plans, you have recommended, the creation of a permanent United Nations organization. To facilitate and hasten the the creation of that organization and carry on the work yoii have begun, and till its creation you have established an interim commission. “The Government of the United States is honoured that you have asked that the interim commission will have its seat in Washington, and will be glad to take ■preliminary action for the establishment of the commission. Finally, you have expressed th.e deep conviction that the goal in this field. cannot be attained without forward action in other fields? Increased food production must be accompanied by increased industrial production and purchasing power. Better Living Standards.

“There must be measures for dealing with trade barriers, international exchange stability and international investment. Better use of natural human resources must be assured to improve living standards. Many of these questions lie outside the scope of the work you have undertaken, but their solution is none the less essential to its success. They require and shall receive united attention. _ , ... “In the political field, these relationships are equally important. A sound agricultural programme will depend on world political security, while security will be greatly strengthened if each country can be assured of the food it needs. Freedom from want and fear go hand in hand. . "The ultimate objective can be simply stated: To build for ourselves and for all men. a world in which each individual shall have the opportunity to live out his life in peace, to work productively, earning at least enough for his actual needs and those of his family, to associate with friends of his choice, to think and worship freely, and to die secure in the knowledge that his children and their children shall have the same opportunity.”