OPERATIONS OF UNRRA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24367, 20 September 1944, Page 3

OPERATIONS OF UNRRA

* HELP FOR FORMER ENEMIES (BOW) RUGBY, Sept. 18. The United States Director of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation (Mr H H. Lehman), addressing the UNRRA Council in Montreal, said the hgm against privation and disease was only just beginning. The enemy had been even more ruthless in his treatment ot occupied countries than had been known or anticipated. Mr Lehman said he was leaving shortly for Europe for the early stages of full-scale relief and rehabilitation operations. He was equally determined that preparations for operations in the Far East would not be neglected, and he was proceeding to establish an UNRRA special mission to China and' the opening of a second office in Sydney. He could give no forecast what the council’s attitude would be in regard to assistance to former enemy nations such as Italy. However, a clear division of opinion among the delegates on the issue was indiHe' said the Norwegians did not favour immediate aid for former enemy countries after the war, while the Chinese would be prepared to provide necessities of life even to the Japanese He understood that Great Britain >and the United States looked with some favour on the question of assisting former enemy nations. UNRRA would certainly operate within former enemy countries in so far as it fulfilled its responsibility of caring for displaced persons.