The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-05-18

up resolutions spelling out what
would be done under the agreement.
Since they knew the bitterness
and controversy which grew out OF
the unpaid war loans OF the last
war, one prime purpose is to achieve
their aim without running up lot
OF uncollectible debts. In other
words, they got down to brass tacks
and decided that their effort to re-
store normalcy in the world should
be accomplished on a very simple
principle of justice. Tney divided up
the world into two categories. FIRST,
those who have enough OF the things
needed to feed and clothe and house
their people, and those who don't.
Then there is another division be-
tween those who, while they don't
have the basic resources, nevertne-
less have the money to pay Tor
them.
All OF the nations which have
enough to take care of their own
people are to contribute | per cent
of their national income as OF the
year ending June 80, l943.
Those nations like France and
Holland and Belgium and Norway
and others which have been able to
get gold or other wealth away from
the Axis robbers and into Allied or
neutral countries expect to pay for
the supplies they get.
Those countries which have no
foreign trade or credit balance
abroad will receive supplies and
services to bring their people up to
rather stern standard OF living
and get normal daily life started
again. The supplies contributed will
be put into regular business chan
nels and most Of the people who
get them will pay In their own
money. OF course, this money would
have no value outside Of the coun-
try involved. 1t would, however,
have value within the country and
UNRRA would take, we will say IN
the case OF Greece, drachmas for
the supplies delivered.
No Big Payroll
Those drachmas would be spent
within the country and will help
carry out the principle which Gov
ernor Lehman has laid down-that
UNRRA itself will not develop big
payroll. 1t will help the people to
help themselves. Let me give you
an example:
| The Greeks haven't enough food.
| Their various public utilities are
! smashed to pieces, they have no
shoes to walk on, their hospitals and
other health institutions have been
destroyed or disintegrated. All right.
UNRRA will set down a certain
number of pairs OF shoes in Greece
1T will set down a certain amount
OF food, certain amount OF cloth
ing, certain amount Of machinery
| and other supplies--that will be paid
for in drachmas which are nothing
more than pieces Of paper as far as
the rest of the country is con-
cerned, but which have cash value
in Greece.
They will take those drachmas
and hire personnel, people who will
arrange to load the supplies into
trucks at the ports where UNRRA
sets them down and handle the dis
tribution of food and clothing
through the agencies within the
country; they will do the dirty work
Of rebuilding the WaterWorks and
electric light plants, the public
schools and other buildings neces-
sary for an ordered life. Thus en-
ployment will be furnished out OF
the nations own wealth.
This is a very brief attempt to
show how UNRRA works but as !
sat in the Du Pont building on Con-
necticut avenue and heard Mr.
Salisbury, who is one OF the most
predetermined government Off
Gals with whom | have dealt in
my 80 years experience in Washing
ton, detail UNRRA's activities, be-
gan to feel quite an emotional up
surge. Salisbury may have felt il
too but, Of course, he wouldn't show
it any more than would since both
of us are laconic middle-westerners
/ said: Isn't this whole idea an
historical innovation?" He replied
well, yes. But don't think the a
member nations are laying any
pattern for postwar planning ir
UNRRA. They have created here ar
organization OF purely transitional
nature. It's merely an attempt or
the part OF the nations which have
something to offer to provide it. Il
the others can pay for the food anc
clothing and other things they get
they are willing to pay for it
II they can't, the contributing ma
tons are going to get it to them