With respect to food reserves, Secretary Kissinger proposed that the Rome Conference "organize a Reserves Coordinating Group to negotiate a detailed agreement on an international system of nationally-held grain reserves at the earliest possible time." Mr. Kissinger said that the system should include all major exporters as well as those whose import needs are likely to be greatest. The proposed International Reserve System would include the following elements: "-Exchange of information on levels of reserve and working stocks, on crop prospects and on intentions regarding imports or exports; -Agreement on the size of global reserves required to protect against famine and price fluctuations;

-Sharing of the responsibility for holding reserves;

-Guidelines on the management of national reserves, defining the conditions for adding to reserves and for releasing from them;

-Preference for cooperating countries in the distribution of

reserves;

-Procedures for adjustment of targets and settlement of disputes and measures for dealing with noncompliance."

Secretary Kissinger also called for a strengthening and expansion of the research network linking the less developed countries with research institutions in the industrialized countries and with the existing eight international agricultural research centers. He proposed that resources for those centers be more than doubled by 1980. He said the United States would, during that same period, triple its own contributions for the international centers, for agricultural research efforts in the less developed countries, and for research by U.S. universities on the agricultural problems of developing nations. Mr. Kissinger noted the opening in the United States of the International Fertilizer Development Center with funds provided by the United States and Canada. That Center had first been proposed by the United States at the Sixth Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly in April 1974.

The United States proposed that a global nutrition surveillance system be established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Secretary Kissinger stated that nutrition surveying was a field in which the United States had considerable experience, and that the United States was ready to share its knowledge and techniques in this field. The United States also invited WHO, FAO and UNICEF to arrange for an internationally coordinated program in applied nutritional research.

Secretary Kissinger noted that a "number of suggestions have been made for a central body to fuse our efforts and provide leadership." He said that the United States "is openminded about such an institution," but that "whatever the mechanisms, a unified, concerted and comprehensive approach is an absolute requirement."

For the full text of Secretary Kissinger's address, see Dept. of State Press Release, No. 477, Nov. 5, 1974; the Dept. of State Bulletin, Vol. LXXI, No. 1851, Dec. 16, 1974, pp. 821-829.

The 137 nations attending the World Food Conference November 5-16, 1974, recommended a series of resolutions to the United Nations which included the following:

-an early-warning system to provide for sharing information on crops, supplies, and any major projected changes in demand;

—an internationally coordinated program in applied nutritional research;

—an international grain reserve system comprised of cereal-producing, consuming, and trading nations, to build up supplies in years of plenty to guard against future emergencies;

-a World Food Council within the United Nations to coordinate food policy;

-an Agricultural Development Fund.

It was agreed that donor countries including the United States would expend every effort in 1975 to provide commodities and/or financial assistance to insure an annual food aid program totaling 10 million tons.

For the full texts of four key resolutions adopted by the Conference on the objectives and strategies of food production, an international undertaking on world food security, an improved policy for food aid, and arrangements for follow-up action, including appropriate operational machinery on recommendations or resolutions of the Conference, see the Dept. of State Bulletin, Vol. LXXI, No. 1851, Dec. 16, 1974, pp. 831-837. The resolutions were adopted by the Conference without vote on Nov. 16, 1974. For the texts of all Conference resolutions, see the Report of the World Food Conference, Provisional, U.N. Doc. E/5587, Nov. 22, 1974.

Agricultural Trade

On October 8, 1974, the United States and Poland issued a Joint Statement on the Development of Agricultural Trade between the two countries (TIAS 7944; 25 UST 2763; entered into force October 8, 1974). The operative portion of the Joint Statement is as follows:

I

The two parties will exchange on a regular basis agricultural economic information, including forward estimates on supply and

demand, and trade for major agricultural commodities in order to ensure harmonious development of trade in agricultural products. II

In July of each year the Polish party will provide the United States Department of Agriculture with a list of agricultural commodities and their quantities which Poland intends to import for its own needs, subject inter alia to the availability of financing, from the United States for the following three crop years, and. as crop information becomes available thereafter, the United States party will provide the polish party with estimates of market demand and export abilities.

The United States party declares its intention to assure that Polish foreign trade enterprises may purchase commodities in the United States market, subject to availabilities, up to the levels specified in the current version of the list to be provided by Poland.

The United States party recognizes Poland as a traditional and valuable CCC credit customer and will accord Poland's future applications for CCC credit no less favorable treatment than will be accorded to applications from other socialist countries and developed countries under the criteria then being applied in determining the availability of CCC credit.

To introduce more stability into commodity markets, the two parties will encourage the conclusion of long term purchasing agreements between private United States exporters of agricultural commodities and Polish foreign trade enterprises.

Taking into account the importance of the volume and growth of two-way agricultural trade to both parties, each declares its intention to facilitate bilateral trade in agricultural products. Each party reaffirms the desirability of treating imports from the other in accordance with the most-favored-nation principle and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The Polish party expressed appreciation for cooperation in veterinary science which has facilitated trade between the two countries and both Parties agreed to continue and expand as necessary cooperative activity in this area, as well as in phyto-sanitary control, standardization and quality control.

In furtherance of the above, a permanent working group on agricultural trade will be established within the framework of the joint American-Polish Trade Commission, and the working group will meet not less than once a year for consultations on the state of the international agricultural economy and trade between the United States and Poland. In order to promote further mutually beneficial trade, the working group will also explore the possibilites of future closer cooperation in various fields of agriculture.

Both parties support the Tokyo Declaration on the Multilateral Trade Negotiations and agree that nothing in this declaration shall prejudice or modify existing undertakings by either country under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The Tokyo Declaration is in GATT Docs. 1134, Sept. 14, 1973, and MIN (73) 1, Sept. 14, 1973. See also the Dept. of State Bulletin. Vol. LXIX, No. 1789, Oct. 8, 1973, pp. 445-452, and the 1973 Digest, Ch. 10, § 2, pp. 364–367.

Livestock

The United States and Panama, through an exchange of notes on May 28 and June 12, 1974, agreed to an Amendment (TIAS 7888; 25 UST 1522; entered into force June 12, 1974) to the 1972 U.S.-Panama Agreement on Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Rinderpest (TIAS 7482; 23 UST 3108; entered into force October 5, 1972).

Under the Amendment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to provide funding and technical expertise to assist in the implementation of a strong foot-and-mouth disease program. A joint U.S.-Panama Commission is established, consisting of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Panama's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, or their designated representatives. Operational activities are to be concentrated in the Darien Gap region of the provinces of Darien and the Comarca San Blas. A Technical Executive Committee, codirected by U.S. and Panamanian technicians, is to carry on surveillance, prevention, and inspection measures primarily in 25-mile wide inspection and control zones along the Panama/Colombia border. Panamanian technicians are to carry out the actual inspection and regulatory activities of the program, but it is contemplated that up to two U.S. Department of Agriculture officials will be routinely assigned to the Technical Executive Committee. There is also provision for the Committee to take action in the event of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, or the threat of an outbreak, anywhere in the country. The United States is to provide $700,000 for program costs during the first year from Agency for International Development funds, and 90 percent of annual program costs in subsequent years from Department of Agriculture funds. The amendment contains provisions ensuring strict control over utilization of U.S. assistance, post audits of expenditures, and access to information regarding the program. Panamanian National Guard Support is to be arranged through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and paid for by funds from the Panamanian Government.

See also the 1973 U.S.-Colombia Agreement (TIAS 7763; 24 UST 2485; entered into force Dec. 17, 1973) and the 1974 Amendment thereto (TIAS 7879; 25 UST 1463; entered into force May 10, 1974).

On January 17, 1974, President Nixon issued Executive Order No. 11763, establishing a National Commission for the Observance of World Population Year, 1974. The United Nations General Assembly, in Resolution 2683 (XXV) of December 11, 1970, had designated the

year 1974 as World Population Year and had called upon Member States and international organizations to participate fully in appropriate efforts and undertakings concerning the population question. The Commission established by the President was to promote the appropriate observance in the United States of 1974 as World Population Year. To that end, the Commission was to "seek to create within the United States a better understanding of the causes, nature, scope, and consequences of the problem of population growth, both national and international, and the relationship of this problem to the quality of human life." The Commission was authorized to assemble and disseminate information, issue reports and other publications, and "conduct other activities it may deem appropriate to provide for the effective participation of the United States in the observance of World Population Year." The Commission was scheduled to conclude its work by the end of 1974 and to report to the President on its work within thirty days thereafter.

For the full text of Exec. Order No. 11763, see the Fed. Reg., Vol. 39, No. 14, Jan. 21, 1974, p. 2349; see also the Dept. of State Bulletin, Vol. LXX, No. 1807, Feb. 11, 1974, pp. 153–154.

World Population Plan of Action

On March 14, 1974, General William H. Draper, Jr., United States Representative to the United Nations Population Commission, presented some basic principles for a World Population Plan of Action to the Commission during its preparations for the World Population Conference in Bucharest, Romania, in August 1974. The principles were as follows:

1. At the level of the individual:

There have been a number of resolutions of United Nations bodies declaring the basic human right of individuals to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have information, education and means to do so. We believe that as a first goal of the World Population Plan of Action, all governments should be urged to assure that such information, education and means are available within the next five or ten years, to all their people who desire them.

2. At the level of the nation:

All governments have the sovereign right to determine their own population policies, taking into account human rights, diversity of cultures and the effects of national policies on the community of nations in this increasingly interdependent world. We believe the World Population Plan of Action should urge governments to establish national policies to seek a balance between birth rates and death rates of low level through measures to improve health and reduce fertility.