I am directed by the Minister to inform you that the question of this country becoming a member of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (the FAO) is at present under preliminary consideration here.

We are very anxious to know in this connection what action, if any, other countries, including Switzerland, propose to take with a view to joining the Organisation. It might be a good thing from many points of view, if Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal and this country were to join at the same time. The fact that the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome is now about to be dissolved makes the FAO the principal instrument of international co-operation in the field of agriculture and, in view of the world food shortages which seem likely to persist for some time, international co-operation in the field of agriculture was never so important as it is in present circumstances.

I should be glad if you would be good enough to discuss this matter at a very early date with the appropriate authorities of the Swiss Government with a view to ascertaining the Swiss Government's intentions with regard to membership of the FAO. It would be particularly interesting to know whether the Swiss Government intend to apply for membership and if so, what steps, if any, they propose to take to ensure that their application will receive the support of the necessary two-thirds majority of the present members of the Organisation. I should be glad if you would be good enough to report the result of your enquiries to the Department at your earliest possible convenience.