Pakistan Brings Its Grain Shortage to Washington
28 January 1953 to 26 June 1953
The grain shortage coincided with a dispute over water after partition. Zafrulla Khan cited a second year of drought and alleged that India was reducing irrigation flows. He described Pakistan's participation in international efforts to resolve the Indus waters dispute and proposed wells, irrigation projects, and greater food production. [1]
Pakistan’s foreign minister, Zafrulla Khan, and ambassador, Muhammad Ali Bogra, asked American officials on 28 January 1953 to help obtain between one million and one and a half million tons of grain. Their forecast shortage had worsened, while earlier food imports had drained foreign exchange. Khan said Pakistan could consider a loan, a gift, or a combination of the two, with an initial portion needed immediately. [1]
American officials questioned the size and duration of the shortage, possible supplies from Turkey, and prospects for increasing production. Bogra pointed to Turkish farm mechanization as an example Pakistan could follow. The immediate obstacle was financing: John Ohly explained that existing foreign aid appropriations were assigned to specific purposes and countries. A request on this scale would probably require Congress to act. [1]
The administration approved wheat assistance in May and sought congressional authorization. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Wheat Aid Act on 25 June 1953, the same date as the emergency agreement with Pakistan. The first shipment left Baltimore the following day. [2]
Khan explained that scarce foreign exchange had been used for wheat, forcing cuts to other imports and reducing customs revenue. A loan or grant could relieve both the grain shortage and that fiscal pressure. [1] [2]
Related Diplomats
Sources
- Memorandum of conversation: Pakistan’s 1953-54 food situation, 28 January 1953
FRUS 1952-1954, Africa and South Asia, volume XI, part 2, document 1133, pp. 1822-1824; file 890D.2311/1-2853, participants, request, financing, and closing U.S. reply
FRUS 1952–1954, XI, part 2, document 1133, pp. 1822–1824: drought, water claims, foreign exchange, customs revenue and production proposals
- Editorial note on the Wheat Aid Act and Emergency Wheat Aid Agreement, 1953
FRUS 1952-1954, Africa and South Asia, volume XI, part 2, document 1139; June 25 legislation/agreement and June 26 first shipment
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Pakistan Brings Its Grain Shortage to Washington. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record b0d5a4db8d2d7435b7c8. https://chanceries.org/research/history/pakistan-wheat-appeal-1953/