Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎148r] (297/978)

see in it some hope of preventing the
establishment of an Aprista Government,
which might be expected to remain in
power indefinitely by well organised
terrorism.
Against this background the Peruvian
CWigress was formally opened on the 28th
duiy. It was expected that the Apristas
would try to push through demogogic
legislation in an attempt to restore lost
popularity and force the resignation of the
Minister of the Interior, who has been
responsible for the efficient investigation of
the murder of Senor Grana.
Before either House can function a
President must be elected. In the House
of Representatives an Aprista was elected.
But, thanks to the absence of non-Aprista
Senators, the Senate was unable to form the
quorum necessary for the election of a
President.
According to the Constitution, one House
cannot sit unless the other is functioning,
and in view of the acute partisan passions
involved, it is doubtful if there will be a
Peruvian Congress in session when the
British Parliamentary Delegation is due to
arrive on the 7th September.
THE UNITED NATIONS
Food and Agriculture Organisation
The Conference of the Food and Agri
culture Organisation began on the 25th
August in Geneva. The Conference has
before it a review of the world food situa
tion which shows the effect of the severe
winter and the dry spring and summer in
many of the deficiency countries. Cereal
output in these countries will be lower than
last season and the small increase in the
production of potatoes, sugar and animal
fats hoped for in some areas will not be
enough to replace the food values lost in
the form of bread grains. Importing
countries are recommended to make a
special effort to collect and utilise as much
as possible of their own agricultural
production. The report also contains a
recommendation that a world “ food
parliament ” should be set up at once, to
contend with the shortages. This proposal
differs in some respects from that for a
World Food Board put forward at the
Copenhagen Conference of F.A.O. last
year. Other questions on the agenda
include the permanent headquarters of the
Organisation and the appointment of anew
Director-General to succeed Sir John Orr.
Another question which has arisen at the
last moment is the future representation of
India on F.A.O., the point at issue being
whether Pakistan is to be admitted with
out formality or delay or, whether that
Dominion will have to apply as an entirely
new candidate.
World Trade Charter
The revised draft of the Charter of the
International Trade Organisation which
has been worked out by the preparatory
committee in meetings at London and
Geneva taking up a full year, was finally
adopted in plenary session on 22nd August.
The draft will now go to the World Trade
Conference, which is to meet at Havana
on 21st November and at which it is hoped
all States with a significant interest in
world trade, whether members of the
United Nations or not, will be represented.
Full agreement has not yet been reached
on the adjustment of tariffs and work con
tinues on this branch of the preparation
for the world conference.
The draft Charter will be treated more
at length in a later Summary.
SECURITY COUNCIL
Membership
Having on the 18th August voted down
the majority who favoured the admission
of Eire, Portugal and Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan to mem
bership of the United Nations, Mr.
Gromyko used his veto twice more on the
21st iiugust, opposing consideration by the
Security Council of the applications of the
ex-enemy States (including Italy), and of
Austria. In harmony with previous Aus
tralian policy towards the Assembly’s
rights over the admission of members, and
to meet the United Kingdom’s scruples
against supporting a country whose treaty
of peace had not entered into force, Colonel
Hodgson (Australia) proposed that the
Council should recommend that Italy, as
a peace-loving State, able and willing to
fulfil the Charter, should be admitted at
such time and under such conditions as
the Assembly deemed appropriate. Mr.
Gromyko, always jealous of the rights of
the permanent members of the Security
Council, at once scented an attack upon the
Charter and sprang to its defence. He
brushed aside an Australian remark that
only Russia had failed to ratify the Italian
treaty, argued that the Big Three must
support the candidature of the ex-Satellite
Powers as soon as, and not before, the
treaties come into force, and voted against
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