A.—2a

In the result, it was agreed unanimously (but with South Africa abstaining) that Korea and Formosa be considered " liberated areas " in which the Administration was authorized to operate. Similarly, it was agreed that Austria should benefit by the assistance of the Administration " as soon as possible," UNRRA being authorized to operate there in agreement with the authorities exercising administrative control of the country ; and, as to Italy, it was agreed that the Administration be authorized and directed to initiate as soon as possible a programme of relief and rehabilitation assistance, " adequate to meet the urgent needs of the Italian population." The cases of Austria and Ttaly came together before the Council, when the resolutions covering them were carried, with one member (Yugoslavia) voting against the motion, and South Africa again abstaining. Supplies:—At the London Council session, as hitherto, it was well recognized that the physical availability of supplies is a first condition of success in UNRRA's relief work ; and that this in turn depends upon the readiness of Governments and peoples to limit their own demands so that the pressing needs of others can be met. The Combined Food Board's report, distributed during the session, appreciatively mentioned New Zealand amongst the countries whose sacrifices in consumption and stocks had made supplies available to liberated countries. Immediately hostilities ended in the Far East, the Committee of Supplies, and then the whole Council, adopted the following resolution : — A Resolution relating to Possible Sources of Increased Supplies as a Result of the Termination of the War with Japan Whereas The termination of war with Japan (a) Will result in a diminished demand by military authorities for raw materials, food, transport equipment and other manufactured goods, (b) Will release much productive capacity of the supplying countries now engaged in production of military supplies and make it available for the production of civilian goods, and (c) Will result in war surplus supplies which will be available for civilian consumption; and Whereas The needs for relief and rehabilitation supplies of all liberated areas are most urgent and immediate now, in anticipation of the coming winter; it is therefore Resolved, That the Council recommends that— (a) The member governments of the supplying countries take such measures in relation to the production, distribution and shipping of supplies as are necessary to ensure the prompt and equitable flow from current stocks and new production of relief and rehabilitation supplies to the liberated areas. (b) The highest authorities of the supplying governments concerned instruct their military and civilian supply agencies to make available to the Administration and to the governments of liberated areas with, the least possible delay as much as practicable of war supplies to meet approved relief and rehabilitation requirements. The membership of the Committee on Supplies was increased from twelve to twenty (New Zealand remaining a member), and its functions were extended to include the discussing of broad programmes for securing equitable distribution of supplies. The Central Committe of UNRRA up to the present consisted of only four Great Powers—the United Kingdom, the United States, the U.S.S.R. and China. To these, France and Canada were added at the London meeting. A further amendment, to add Australia, Brazil, and Yugoslavia, thus making a Committee more in conformity with the principles accepted at San Francisco, failed for lack of unanimity amongst the Great Powers already on the Committee ; the U.S.S.R. representative explained that there had been insufficient time for him to get the views of his Government on this matter ; and an amendment on these lines will presumably be again pressed at the next session. The membership of the Committee of the Council for the Far East was extended to include the U.S.S.R. Generally, the system of standing committees through which UNRRA has largely functioned was under critical review, and power was taken to dissolve such bodies, replacing them by new committees as required. In so acting, the Council, as also in its constructively critical survey of UNRRA's administration generally, showed an awareness of the need for a constant check on the machinery to which the work of UNRRA is entrusted. This report must end on the. severely practical note of quoting, and commending to the best consideration of our Government, the resolution on further contributions. It reads:—• " Whereas it is deemed essential to make financial provision for the completion of the work of UNRRA, and " Whereas it is contemplated that UNRRA will complete its shipments to the receiving countries in Europe not later than the end of 1946 and in the Far East three months thereafter and " Whereas the programmes of the Administration should be subject to continuing consideration in the light of the relative needs of the receiving countries, their ability to pay and the availability of supplies and finance before any final determination of the extent or cost of such programmes can be made. " The Council recommends : " 1. That the member Governments should make available on the basis of the recommendations contained in sections 4 and 5 of the Financial Plan an additional contribution approximately equivalent to 1 per cent, of the national income of the contributing country for the year ending June 30th, 1943, as determined by the contributing member Government;

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