British Contribution To Unrra Will Be Sacrifice By People

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1945, Page 5

British Contribution To Unrra Will Be Sacrifice By People

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 24. “Any contribution we are able to make will mean sacrifice by the ordinary people of Britain for some time,” said the British representative (Mr. Noel Baker), addressing the Unrra Council in support of Mr. Clayton’s resolution suggesting that member-Gov-ernments make an additional contribution approximately equivalent to 1. per cent, of the national income for the year ended June 30,'1943. “If Britain contributes 1 per cent., it would not be doing so from surplus goods or wealth, because we have no surplus," said Mr. Baker. “I hope each member of the council- will consider if he cannot persuade his Government to make some kind of contribution.” Mr. Clayton said it was contemplated that Unrra would complete shipments to Europe not later than the end of 1946, and to the Far East three months later. Mr. Clayton warned that further United States contributions were in the hands of Congress, and should the proportion rise much beyond the present figure, Congress might raise further questions regarding the United Nations’ aspects of Unrra. The resolution was passed after a number of delegates had pointed out the difficulty, even the impossibility, of making the suggested additional contribution. The Director (Mr. Lehman), in a final address to the council, expressed the opinion that there would not be funds to meet all urgent relief and rehabilitation - needs.

“There must be some scaling down of our ultimate programmes if we are to pecure equitable distribution among the receiving countries,” he said. “I can assure the council that I will do my best to maintain the flow of supplies in the coming months.”