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 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 the allocation of credits for American purchases. Structure The Council Each nation appointed its respective ministers (or delegates) in charge of shipping to the council. The representatives were: Robert Cecil and Sir Joseph Maclay for Great Britain; Étienne Clémentel and Louis Loucheur for France; Silvio Crespi and Salvatore Orlando, the latter replaced by Giovanni Villa in May 1918 for Italy; Raymond B. Stevens and George Rublee (from July 1918) for the United States The Council held six meetings: First Meeting of the Council, 11–14 March, 1918 Second Meeting of the Council, Paris, 23–25 April, 1918 Third Meeting of the Council, 29–30 August, 1918 Fourth Meeting of the Council, 30 September, 1918 Fifth Meeting of the Council, 1 February, 1919 Sixth Meeting of the Council, 10 March, 1919 The Committees Main Executive Committee 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 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 the main committee Tonnage Sub-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