Evening star., 1943-03-24
President UphoIds
Lehman in Rift on
War Relief Policy
Settles Row Involving
BEW and Leuse-Lend
Power in Foreign Fields
BY GARNETT d. HORNER


An undercover squabble over
authority in the foreign reliet
field, involving the Board OF
Economic Warfare, the Lease
Lend Administration and the Of
flee of Foreign Relief and Re
Mobilization, headed by former
New York Gov Herbert H. Leh-
man, has been decided by Presi-
dent Roosevelt in favor of Mr.
Lehman, it was learned today.
The President has given Mr.. Leh-
man a letter which has the effect
OF an executive order. empowering
him to issue such directives to Other
Government departments and
agencies as he considers necessary
to assure fun coordination OF
foreign relief activities.
Two Conditions.
The only strings put on Mr.. Leh-
mans authority are that relief
operations in any specific area must
be carried on subject to the approval
of military commanders as long as
the area Is under military occupa-
tlon, and shall be guided in matters
OF general foreign policy by Secre-
tary of State Hull.
The foreign relief Office was set
up under Mr. Lehman last Decem-
Der 4, as a unit of the State De
partnent, to direct this Govern
ment's relief and rehabilitation
activities in war areas As thev are
liberated from Axis control.
The Office hardly had begun func-
tioning, however. when signs of CON
fiict with other agencies, particularly
lease-lend and the BEW. DEVELOPED
Since most OF the food, clothing and
ether relief supplies to be provided
for victims will come from lease
lend funds, the Lease lend Admins
trstion was reported making de-
tailed preparations to administer the
distribution of the supplies. The
BEW, which is engaged in wartime
trade operations. also was seeking
some measure Of control over the
relief activities.
UAtfS IDnplu.
AS the undercover conflict was
rapidly coming to a head. it was
understood Mr.. Lehman laid the
case before the President last week
and promptly received the letter
from Mr.. Roosevelt confirming his
authority.
Defining anew the scope and du-
ties of Mr.. Lehman's work. the let
ter authorized him TO make all plans
and coordinate arrangements for
the administration of American
activities for the relief of war vic
Tins in Ayis-occupied areas as they
are liberated.
Specifically, the letter directed Mr..
Lehman to arrange for the provi-
sion, production and distribution of
such basic necessities as food, fuel
and clothing and such essential serv-
Ices as housing and medical care.
He was authorized to make use OF
the facilities and personnel of any
other Government department or
agency equipped to assist in this
field, through such directives as he
might issue.
Readjustment Later.
The President pointed out that.
some readjuStment of the relief Of
fee may be needed when a contem-
plated United Nations organization
to coordinate the relief activities of
all Allied countries is established.
Mr. Lehman's Office already is op-
Grating in North Africa, with mis-
sions in Algeria and Morocco dis
tributing milk to undernourished
children through the Red Cross. and
is preparing for more extensive op-
erations in Tunisia when Nan forces
are driven out Of there.
One OF the first actions by Mr..
Lehman in line with his authority
TO make use of the facilities of other
Government agencies was an
nounced last night. That was the
appointment Of DR. James A. Crab
tree as chief medical officer of the
relief Office.
Dr. Crabtree is borrowed from the
United States Public Service and
also has been acting as medical con-
sultant Of the Lease-lend Admins
xatjon for the last six months.
Mr.. Lehman also announced crea-
tion OF an Advisory Committee on
Health and Medical Care, headed
by Surg. Gen. Thomas Parran. and
including DR., Alfred Cohn of the
BEW, as well as Army and Navy of
f1cers and physicians from private
life in its membership