Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-05-26
WNU Service, Union Trust Building


Washington, d. c.
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,
it 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-
officially delimited plans for civil
ian international activity, is the
United Nations Relief and Rehabili-
tation administration. Forty-four ma
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 if it hadn't
been for the wholehearted coopera-
ton of certain men in Congress
whom nobody by the greatest
stretch of imagination could label as
internationalists. One of them
largely responsible for the un-
opposed authorization by congress
for the 81 ,350, 1000, 1000 which is Ameri-
cas- contribution to the UNRRA
fund was Sen. Arthur H. Vanden-
berg, member of the foreign re-
lations committee, who cannot be
described as an "internationalist."
He supported UNRRA in this way
after long and careful consulta-
ton with the State department con-
corning the Administrations obliga-
tons which the United States had to
accept if it joined this body of "a
nations. Vandenberg was supported
by representatives of the delegation
from Ohio, among others, a middle
western state not noted for inter-
national tendencies.
l 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 limita-
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 well known
over the air to many of the readers
OF this column and all of the listen
ers to the Farm and Home Hour"
I must admit l 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 puzzling over the question of
an emblem or flag or designation
for UNRRA-somebody thought it
ought to have a distinguishing in
sigma but he was unconvinced and
then he said something to me which
Is important to 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 it can to 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
objectives the keeping of the num-
Der of administrative employees
down to the absolute minimum. I'll
have more to say about that later,
first just a very brief summary of
what UNRRA has set as its objec-
tive, how it hopes to obtain the OBJ
jective, as set forth in its so-called
"bible," containing the official state
ment of the resolutions of the
organization. This is the document
which was told if anyone read he
would not have the crust to oppose
the UNRRA program.
On November 9, 1913, the repre-
sentatives of these "A nations met
in the White house and signed an
agreement to cooperate in bind
Ing up the wounds of war. Later,
they met in Atlantic City and drew