The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-18
BY 5aukhaee

While the bombs are bursting over
Europe, it is pretty hard to think
Of postwar activities. America just
doesn't like to do it. Furthermore.
II is perfectly natural that. after our
experience in the last war, when we
talk about relief for Europe, we
feel we don't want to. play the role
Of Uncle Sap" again.
The one organization which has
gone ahead with very definite, spe-
cihcally delimited plans for civil.
ian international activity, is the
United Nations Relief and Rehabin-
tation administration. Forty-four 'ha-
tons have combined to set up this
organization and finance its work.
The United States part in this or
ganization has the specific authorize
ton Of Congress. But it never could
have had this backing il it hadn't
been for the wholehearted coopera-
ton Of certain men in Congress
whom nobody by the greatest
stretch Of ina gination could label as
internationalists. One OF them
largely responsible for the I'M
opposed authorization by congress
for the 81. $50. o0o. 900 which is Ameri-
cas- contribution to the UNRRA
fund was Sen. Arthur H. Vanden-
berg, a member Of the foreign re-
lations committee. who cannot be
described as an ''internationalst."
He supported UNRRA in this way
after a long and careful consulta-
ton with the State department con-
corning the administr atoms obliga-
tions which the United States had to
accept IL il joined this body Of A
nations. Vandenberg was supported
by representatives Of the delegation
from Ohio. among others. middle
western state not noted for inter-
national tendencies.
asked a member OF the UNRRA
staff why he thought these people
were convinced that the United
States ought TO take part in this
humanitarian movement which al
though it proclaimed ultra-practical
aims might naturally be doubted
by the cynical
Nobody who has read the lirnita.
tons which this organization has
placed upon itself could have the
crust TO oppose it," was his answer.
Selling Point
At that moment, took this rather
categorical statement with a grain
OF salt. Later, after talking with
Morse Salisbury, who is we'll known
over the air TO many Of the readers
Of this column and all Of the listen
ers to the Farm and Home Hour"
must admit / was sold.
Morse Salisbury gave up an i'm
portant position in the department
Of agriculture which he had held
through various administrations to
handle the public relations for
UNRRA under former governor Of
New York Herbert Lehman, its ad-
ministrator. broke in on him when
he was pulling over the question of
an emblem or flag or a designation
for Enthusiastically thought 1t
ought TO have distinguishing in
sigma but he was unconvinced and
then he said something to me which
Is important 10 remember.
Here is one governmental insti-
tuition - governmental in the sense
that A nations are backing it
which, instead Of wishing TO per.
petuate itself. as most bureaucratic
units are said TO do. has for its chief
aim-self liquidation. Like the boys
in the front lines. IT wants to get
the Job done and then quit"
The object Of UNRRA is TO do
what IL can 10 resolve to normally
the chaos produced by the war and
then quit.
FOR that reason, former Cover
nor Lehman has set as one Of his
detectives the keeping Of the mum.
Der Of administrative employees
down 10 the absolute minimum. I'll
have more 70 say about that later.
first Just very brief summary Of
what UNRRA has set as its objec-
tive, how 1t hopes TO obtain the OBJ
jective. as set forth in its so-cslled
bible" containing the official state
ment Of the resolutions Of the
organization. This is the document
which I was told IL anyone read he
would not have the crust 70 oppose
the UNRRA program.
On November 0. 1913, the repre-.
-sentatives Of these a. nations met
In the White house ard signed an
agreement 10 cooperate in bind.
ing up the wounds Of war. Later
they met in Atlantic City and drew