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20-524: The Allied Maritime Transport Council (AMTC) had been established in 1917 to co-ordinate the tight control of all shipping of the Allies of World War I . Even prior to the armistice of 11 November 1918 the AMTC had been making preparations for changes to introduce in the event of fighting ceasing. In particular they had sent a proposal that German and Austrian ships should be placed under their control as part of

40-667: A different basis. By the time the AMTC was established the Russian Revolution had occurred, and therefore Russia was not involved. However with the American entry into World War I on 2 April 1917 and increasing problems in handling supplies particularly in France and Italy made re-organisation essential. The system of control was based on that previously developed in the British Empire . Originally Italy had adopted

60-699: A pre-war basis. However the British Time-charter requisitioning method was gradually introduced and the Minister of Commerce was exercising full control over French supplies by the time the AMTC was established. The USA introduced a requisitioning system in 1917, however paying increased costs. With the requirements which arose from shipping the Army to Europe, quite drastic steps were taken to organise control. Restrictions on imports were more exercised by policy decisions than control of shipping. In general

80-521: A similar system by Royal Decree in 1915, where by ships were requisitioned for a period of time at a fixed rate of hire to carry Government cargoes. The owner was responsible for recruiting and paying the crew, with the Government paying the running expenses and managing the vessel. This was altered in January 1916 for a system whereby the ship owners were paid per tonnage delivered. However with 90% of

100-460: The Food and Fuel Control Act , and was abolished by Executive Order 3320 on August 21, 1920. Herbert Hoover was appointed to serve as Food Administrator. One of the agency's important tasks was the stabilization of the price of wheat on the U.S. market. Concepts such as "meatless Mondays" and "wheatless Wednesdays" were also implemented to help ration food, so that the government could prioritize

120-674: The Secretary of Agriculture . Despite initial resistance, Houston acquiesced and Hoover was appointed. The administration employed its Grain Corporation, organized under the provisions of the Food Control Act of August 10, 1917, as an agency for the purchase and sale of foodstuffs. Having done transactions in the size of $ 7 billion, the United States Food Administration was rendered obsolete by

140-514: The AMTC ‘international administration’. In more critical terms the Transport Council worked like a cartel , just run by states, trying to eliminate the economic and logistic competition between the partners. So the organization tried to hold prices down, pooled the allied tonnage and coordinated the allied logistics with substantial rationalization effects. Their work was supported by three subcommittees, each responsible for reporting to

160-750: The Food administration was effective. His advisor Edward House suggested Herbert Hoover , who had previously run the Commission for Relief in Belgium . Walter Hines Page , the British ambassador, endorsed this choice and Wilson, a Democrat , agreed although Hoover was a Republican . Hoover accepted the position only on the basis that he would have a completely free hand as regards the Washington bureaucracy, which in particular referred to David F. Houston ,

180-580: The Inter-Allied Food Council, and the Superior Blockade Council. Its role was to advise the conference on economic measures to be taken pending the negotiation of peace, but also more urgently to coordinate the distribution of resources and the access to raw material in the devastated European economy. Specialized commissions were appointed to study particular problems: the organization of a League of Nations and

200-634: The US did not face shortages, however public appeals were made for citizens to voluntarily reduce consumption so that goods could be sent to Europe. For example an appeal issued by the newly founded United States Food Administration for the public to eat more maize bread was successful, and more wheat could be exported to their European allies. Also the War Purchase and Finance Board was established with an American chairman. This met in Paris and London to arrange

220-509: The allocation of credits for American purchases. Each nation appointed its respective ministers (or delegates) in charge of shipping to the council. The representatives were: The Council held six meetings: The AMTC had a Main Executive Committee chaired by James Arthur Salter alongside Jean Monnet , (France), Bernardo Attolico (Italy) with the later addition of George Rublee. Salter and Monnet called their business in

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240-636: The armistice agreement – however they did not succeed in this. By 13 November, two days after the armistice, the British government proposed to their counterparts in France , Italy and the United States that the AMTC be transformed into a "General Economic Council". However the American government wanted the previous organisation to be discontinued, with a new organisation being set up to deal with such economic problems as arose. After discussion amongst

260-602: The drafting of its Covenant; and the determination of responsibility for the war and guarantees. The Supreme Economic Council was soon undermined, however, by a growing division of views between France and Italy on one side, advocating a continuation of the wartime joint action, and the UK and U.S. on the other side, preferring a rapid return to market-oriented business as usual. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/574865/Supreme-Economic-Council Allied Maritime Transport Council The Allied Maritime Transport Council (AMTC)

280-548: The main committee The Tonnage Sub-Committee was responsible for implementing any decisions of the council concerning the co-operative use or programming of tonnage. It also gathered information about the amount and disposition of the tonnage under the control of each Ally and examined any proposals made by them as regards any improvements made by them in this area as well as doing their best to see that any agreed improvements were carried out. United States Food Administration The United States Food Administration (1917–1920)

300-689: The parties involved an agreement to set up the Allied Supreme Council of Supply and Relief was reached on 12 December 1918, with the organisation holding its first meeting on 11 January 1919, a week before the actual Paris Peace Conference opened. By the beginning of February 1919, the Supreme Economic Council was created by merging the Allied Maritime Transport Council with the barely established Allied Supreme Council of Supply and Relief,

320-425: The supplies consisting of cereals and coal this very soon led to shortages in both these areas and so the government returned to the requisitioning system. France had a more varied range of imports and did not face serious shortages until later. Some ships were requisitioned on a bare-boat basis – where the Government recruited and supplied the crew, a somewhat inefficient charter system with much trade continuing on

340-407: The war effort. Branches of the United States Food Administration were set up in all states as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. The agency had broad powers but few mechanisms for enforcement of its policies. It relied largely upon patriotic appeals and voluntary compliance in the formal absence of rationing . Woodrow Wilson realised he would need a dynamic leader to ensure

360-456: Was an independent federal agency that controlled the production, distribution, and conservation of food in the U.S. during the nation's participation in World War I . It was established to prevent monopolies and hoarding, and to maintain government control of foods through voluntary agreements and licensing. The agency was established by Executive Order 2679-A of August 10, 1917, pursuant to

380-520: Was an international agency created during World War I to coordinate shipping between the allied powers of France , Italy , Great Britain , and the United States . The council (based in London ) was formed at a conference in Paris on 3 November 1917, in response to the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare earlier that year. The United States formally joined the AMTC only on October 1, 1918. The Transport Council existed until March 1919, when it

400-611: Was merged with the Supreme Economic Council . Its executive committees were disbanded. In January 1917 the Inter-Allied Shipping Committee was established with representatives from Great Britain, France, and Italy. However this body was ineffective lacking ministerial input for policy development or suitable officials to organise either shipping or supplies. Russia was not involved – shipping issues as regards this country being followed in

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