Evening star., 1941-10-05

Roosevelt Is Urged
To Check Activities Of
Foreign Aid Agencies
Committee Would
Center Collections in
Red Cross and U. S. O.
BY JOHN c. HENRY,
Star Staff Correspondent.

HYDE PARK, N Y, Oct. A.
President Roosevelt today studied
recommendations made to him by
special fact-finding committee
that licenses of several hundred
foreign war relief agencies in the
United States be revoked by the
State Department, to be reissued
only on submission of proof that
they are in a position to carry out
their operations efficiently and
economically.
The recommendations were con-
tanned in a comprehensive interim
report on all private war relief
activities in this country. both do
mestic and foreign, the study being
made by special committee headed
by Joseph E. Davies, former Ambas-
sador to Belgium and Russia.
The committee estimated that the
American people had contributed
approximately s215,00O,000 to non
governmental relief and welfare
organizations in the past fiscal year.
$l50,000,000 of this total going to
domestic programs and the remain
ing s65 5000 to foreign causes.
Two Billion Annually.
These contributions, incidentally,
are included in $500 900 900 to $780,
100000 in annual public donations
for all non-governmental charitable,
religious and educational purposes.
Carrying its statistical picture even
Ioaf
all benevolences of the American
public, including gifts to individuals,
approximates $4,000 900 900 annually
In the face of these totals, the
committee concluded that the sum
given for foreign relief does not
seem to be an unreasonable pro-
portion"
In the domestic field, the COM
mittee found adequate co-ordina-
ton of defense relief activities
through the Army and Navy We'll
fare Departments, the Federal Sc
curity Agency, the American Red
Cross and the agencies comprising
the United Service Organizations
Local correlation has been achieved
through the Community Chests.
The committee recommended an
intensification of operations of the
Red Cross in particular. and sug-
gested further that all domestic
defense welfare appeals be made
through the Red Cross and the
U. S. o.
Since the European war broke out
in 1899, about TOO foreign relief
agencies have been established in
this country with their total take
exceeding s90,000,00O.
British Get Most Aid.
In the order of volume of their
receipts, these organizations are
British. Jewish. Greek, Polish, Fin
nish. Allied British, French and
Belgian), Chinese. religious groups
and French. British agencies are
currently getting about go per cent
of total foreign contributions, the
committee said, with three organ
izations in a British group OF 10 ac-
counting for 80 per cent Of all for
eign relief in this country since
September, 1899. None of the agen-
cies was identified by name.
Although many OF the foreign
agencies have been short-lived and
administrative expenses in some
cases have been as high as 80 per
cent. the committee declared:
There is relatively little fraud or
graft in the charitable field. The
great majority Of these operations
are being conducted honestly ana
in good faith. There are, however.
some unsatisfactory situations. the
committee, in cooperation with
municipal and other organizations
and with the F. B l., has been meas
urably successful in the elmlna-
ton of some of these"
No more specific information was
included in the report on the nature
or location of these unsatisfactory
situations" but there was further
statement that lone OF the abuses
which should be corrected is the fact
that in too many instances there are
organizations, including flgurehead
sponsors and boards, who do not
really work and assume the proper
degree of executive responsibility
and direction"
High Standards Urged.
With regard to the registration
revocation proposal, the committee
suggested the further requirement
for new licenses that there be DEM
onstrated reasonable prospect by the
agencies "of their ability to apply
the relief to the purposes intended
in the country to- which it is to be
sent"
Monthly reports and periodic re-
registration would be required,
even for the agencies meeting all
standards.
Since the registration require