And. you wonder why they are protesting. In recent years. an unhealthy transformation has taken place in the makeup of the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations. The International Commodities Branch. which has within it a number of very able men. well acquainted with the commodities with which they are concerned and having firsthand knowledge of the problems of American producers of those commodities. has been gradually pushed in the background while more and more attention and money has been given to the Regional Investigation Branch. which is composed of persons. a considerable number foreign born. who know. practically nothing about American agriculture and are not particularly wellinformed as to agricultural matters in the countries from which they come or with which their duties are concerned. It is the Regional Investigation Branch which has represented American agriculture at the international trade agreement conferences. This branch has given indication time and again that it is more interested in finding markets in the United States for foreign producers of agricultural products rather than finding foreign markets for American producers of such products.
Identified stereotypes
Foreign-born employees are portrayed as prioritizing foreign agricultural interests over American ones.