Askov American., 1943-06-10
Tact Necessary

Help Europe to help itself will be
the keynote of the relief and recon-
struction program now being planned
for aiding the stricken countries
there after the war. E. DixWell
Chase, writing for the Worldover
Press, states that favoritiSm and par
tisan politices must be forgotten if
a complete understanding is to be
attained, with all relief to be car
ried out internationally.
Tunisia will be good trial ground
for the Office of Foreign Relief and
Reconstruction Operations, the article
stated. 1T has had small staff in
North Africa for several months
assisted by number of members OF
the American Friends Service COM
mittee Although some relief was
being carried out in Algeria, the
staff was principally occupied with
plans for the coming relief operations
in Tunisia Soon, no doubt, we shall
hear some word on the progress OF
these operations.
"Tunisia will provide good chance
to try out 'the techniques and ma
chinery of relief and reconstruction
that have been planned at the desks
in Washington. 1t is good thing
that the OFRRO has such an oppor-
tunity for dress rehearsal, for the
main show, yet to come, will GER
tainly tax its ability to the limit
Personnel and methods will have to
be right when the full weight OF
Europe's misery becomes its burden
and challenge. The stakes in human
values are too high to permit error
or failure.
Recently l had chance to talk
with some of the men who are work
ing on the problem in Washington
] came away deeply impressed with
the spirit in which the organization
is tackling its job. There is nc
place for the rich-uncle-poor-rela-
tive point of view. The keynote
constantly emphasized by Mr. Leh-
man himself, is: Help Europe to help
itself.
''The organization is also keenly
aware of the political pitfalls that
lie in its path. To prevent relief
from becoming the political football
of various groups struggling to grasp
power in liberated Europe will re-
quire of those who administer the
program a disinterestedness, a tact
fulness, and an understanding that
is not easily attained This is one
of many reasons why the OFRRC
hopes to see the task of relief and
reconstruction assumed by a United
Nations organization, of which il
would be the American branch OF
department. There will be less op-
portunity for charges of favoritisn
or partisan politics if the admins
tration of relief is carried out in
ternationally, with full representa-
ton for the countries receiving re-
lief. 1t will also take some of the
sting out of receiving, will help re-
move the stigma of charity, if, fol
example, Belgian commission, par
ticipating in the decisions of the in
ternational body, has a voice in the
ALLEGATION of supplies to Belgium.
whether such an international re-
lief organization comes into being OF
not depends, of course, on the gov
ernmentS of the countries involved
and upon the United States Congress
And that is where understanding i:
required of the people in this coun-
try and their representatives. Re-
lief after the last war was not given
1t was sold. In most cases purchase
of relief supplies was made possible
by American loans, which were never
repaid. This resulted in much bitter.
ness of feeling on both sides of the
Atlantic-a bitterness which wa:
voiced to me by persons in Europe
even in 1910.
at should be obvious, this time
that initial shipments of food, cloth
ing, machinery and raw material:
will have to be free gift, not o.
the United States, but of the United
Nations, for the needs will be greater
than any one country can possibly
supply. These shipments should no
be regarded as gift, however. They
will actually be the soundest invest.
ment our people can make in the
structure of world peace. The ruined
agriculture and industry of Europe
and Asia must be helped to theil
feet before there can be hope for sta.
bility, prosperity, and peace for thu
world"