The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-17

Secret Meeting
Still Prevents
UNRRA Clarity
BY Helen Essary


headlines and read first paragraphs
OF reports Of its goings on-first
at the secret, barbedwire con-
trolled Hot Springs meeting and
later OF the more open Atlantic
City meeting.
As have read have thought
that II the Hot Springs meeting had
not been so secret and barbeed wire
controlled. todays confusion as TO
the purpose OF the UNNRA and its
final value TO the occupied coun-
tries and to the rest OF the world
would not exist.
Calm Assistant Secretary OF
State Dean Acheson cleared away
some Of my doubts about UNNRA
in his testimony before the House
Committee on Foreign Relations.
The questions OF handsome Con
gresswomah Frances Bolton OF Ohio
also helped cut through the mist
which for the moment az least sur
rounds the UNNRA.
As I sat in on the hearing. 7
found out much about UNNRA that
! wanted to know { shall try 10 put
down IN words OF one syllable my
own conslusions.
J'NNRA means. OF course. United
Nations Relief and Rehabilitation
Association Administration. Its
rules and agenda, stripped Of where.
asses, humanitarian and economic
phrases and State Department dis
guises. mean good nursing for sick
countries.
Doctors agree that a sick man,
not suffering an incurable Illness,
IL given good nursing in an atmos-
phere OF wise and friendly interest,
is likely TO get well. This is a rule
that can be applied to sick coun-
tries, the international experts de.
clare.
The illness OF most Of today's
sick countries is not incurable. the
experts add further. 1t is an Illness
aggravated by fear and hunger and
oppression. Once the fear and op-
preston are removed. as they will
be the day the invaders and the ma
tional Quislings are driven out. the
sick countries will begin to get well
If they are given medicine, food
for weakened bodies. clothing
against the cold and fuel with which
10 start again the machines Of
peace-time industry.
From then on. in as short a time
as month or two in some coun-
tries, longer in others. the sick
countries can get well without
help. Not only can they get well
alone, but they prefer to work out
their recovery in their own way.
They prefer that the help OF the
UNNRA be removed as soon as
possible.
II is not good, the wise leaders
OF the occupied countries say, for
any patient. an individual or a ma
ton. TO prolong the period OF con-
Valescence. Too much coddling
makes neurotics and idlers.
And there will be no time TO feel
sorry for ones self or for idling
when this war is over-here OF
abroad.
Naturally. Uncle Sam will pay
most Of the bill for the doctoring
and nursing OF the sick countries
although each country is TO assume
It's share OF the financial burden.
Some OF the nations will be able 10
help each other. For example. to
export surplus grain. Or exchange
wool for clothing with cod liver oil
for medicine.
Sounds a wise arrangement to me,
this UNNRA. You can't exactly OBJ
crate on a patient as We have op-
Grated after a fashion on the occu-
pied countries and then leave him
alone In HIS misery.
Nevertheless, like most Ameri-
cans. think it important that in
the distribution OF postwar relief,
In the nursing OF the sick countries.
that the patients forget all political
skulduggery. Maybe now might be
a good time 10 quote:
THE devil got sick. the devil
monk would be.
The devil got well the devil a
monk was ne"
Postscript-on that column 7 wrote
about the $4,000 subsidy for con-
gressional lunch rooms. Some peo-
pie haven't been too pleased with
me since and have said so in long
speeches. was called a "cat' in
one lawmakers solemn remarks.
I've been called a cat before. but
never at government expense. It
costs from $50 TO s55 to get out one
rage Of the Congressional Record.
When ! read what had been said
about me on the floor OF the House
] thought We'll. there goes about
800 OF the taxpayers money"