§ Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Food when he last took steps to persuade the U.S.S.R. to join the Combined Food Board; if he intends pursuing this matter; and what efforts he proposes making to obtain any wheat from the forthcoming Soviet harvest which may be available for export if that harvest materialises as is expected.
§ Mr. StracheyThe U.S.S.R. was invited in June of this year by His Majesty's 115W Government and by the Governments of of the U.S. and Canada, to assist in the establishment of the International Emergency Food Council and to join that body which took over the work of the Combined Food Board on 1st July. I regret that the invitation was not accepted. I do not propose to reopen the matter at present but I have no doubt that the members of the International Emergency Food Council would welcome, as I would myself, the early participation of U.S.S.R. in the work of the Council. I will not overlook the possibility of obtaining supplies of wheat from the U.S.S.R.