Evening star., 1943-07-19
u. ). Plans 10 Name
Civilian as Economic
Director in Sicily

A civilian director of economic
activity will be installed in Sicily
when that island has been COM
pletely occupied by the Allied forces,
it was indicated in official quarters
today.
Serving under the Allied Military
Administration, he will be intruSted
with the task of getting reconstruct
ton activities underway and restor-
ing normalcy. Arrangements for
such an official were made in the
creation of an Office of Foreign Eco
nomic Coordination in the State
Department. 1t supplanted the for
mer Office of Foreign Territories
and Board of Economic Operations.
The duty of this office, set up by
Secretary Hull June "a at the direc-
ton of President Roosevelt, is to
unity American economic activities
in liberated areas-keep factories,
farms and transportation going and
provide housing for the war victims
idIs Ill dptE SldSe.
The plans were understood to be
in "the paper stage at present.
Dean Acileson, Assistant Secretary
of State, is director of the new Office,
with Thomas K. Finletter, special
assistant to Secretary Hull, as execu-
tive director
President Roosevelt transmitted a
Budget Bureau plan to Secretary
Hull in a letter June 3, which
specified:
The State Department should CO.
ordinate interrelated activities of the
several United States agencies
operating abroad
Each liberated area should have
central point of leadership, with
director, subject to orders ,of the
military commander and. in political
policy, to the Assistant Secretary
of States - s .-
Economic plans and operations of
civilian agencies should be tied in
with those of the armed services, as
well as the foreign political policies
OF the United Nations.
Interdepartmental Committee.
An interdepartmental policy COM
mlttee should be set up, grouping
representatives of the Treasury,
War and Navy Departments, Office
OF Economic Warfare, Lease-Lend
Administration and Office of For
eign Relief and Rehabilitation Op-
eratlons under the craftsmanship of
the Assistant Secretary.
Maintenance of a single civilian
supply line to each liberated region
is the aim of the new coordination
office, with the use of lease-lend
funds. The DEW is responsible for
foreign procurement, while the
Treasury Department is to fix ex-
change rates and assist on currency
control and general fiscal matters.
Our civilian agencies must be
adequately prepared to assist our
military forces in performing those
services and activities in which thev
are expert" the President explained
to Secretary Hull. I'VE must har-
ness together military and civilian
efforts. Only thus can we achieve
full mobilization for the prosecu-
ton of the war and adequately meet
the many problems developing in
the wake of our armed forces"
The Office of Foreign Relief and
Rehabilitation Operat tions will be re-
sponsible for the relief of victims of
war in areas to be designated bv
the President, it was explained.
In such areas. subject to con-
sultation and arrangement with our
Allies" the President said, former
Gov. Herbert H. Lehman, foreign
relief head. should deliver relief
goods and goods to facilitate the
production of basic necessities,
whether they be given away, sold
or bartered."
Relief Program Under Way.
This relief program which has
been under way for some time. is
designed not only to facilitate the
task OF the American forces in estab-
fishing authority in occupied coun-
tries, but also to help the residents
OF these areas to become self
sustaining. The plan is reported to
have been carried out with satisfy
ing results in the occupation of
North Africa.
The Lease-Lend Administration
can assist OFFR lin preparing and
screening requirements, Mr.. Roose-
velt told the Secretary of State.
1ncr