The International Sugar Agreement of 1937 established the International Sugar Council to deal with problems concerning sugar surpluses and sugar distribution. The agreement, entered into for a period of four years by the twenty-two principal sugar importing and exporting states, was renewed by protocols in 1942, 1944, and 1945. According to the last two protocols, the original agreement was to be revised “as soon as the time appears opportune” and although a proposal for redrafting the agreement was made in January, 1946, no action had been taken on the matter by April, 1947.