Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-16
UNRRA Now Out of Funds,
Seeks Aid From CONGRESS
End of War Gives True Picture of Needs, With
Unlnvaded United Nations Facing Obligation
to Bring Relief to Stricken
By Robert J. Leacis

In his recent message to Congress
President Truman outlined his pro-
gram for postwar reconstruction. OF
pressing Importance were two recon-
mendations:
ID That Congress fulfill its commit
ment to the United Nations Relief and
Rehabilitation Administration by appro-
priating the remaining $550,000,0 900 for
United States participation, and
q That Congress promptly consider
the request of UNRRA for new appro-
priation of 81 1850, 100000 to permit the
international agency to complete its
work in Europe and Asia.
UNRRA is now virtually without
funds Nations it is now helping in
Europe must be supplied, it explains.
If hunger, disease, social unrest and
political chaos are to be avoided. New
obligations must be met in the Far East,
Russia and elsewhere. Herbert H. Leh-
man, UNRRA director general, said on
his recent return from Europe that the
problems Of obtaining funds to continue
and expand aid is of extreme immediacy
now that the war is over.
Needs Are Now Known.
Until the end of the war, part of
UNRRA planning was, necessarily, in
the realm of speculation. No one knew
precisely the extent of devastation or
how long suffering would be prolonged.
Estimates of requirements could thus be
scarcely definitive
Now, however, UNRRA knows fairly
we'll how much money it will need to
clean up its obligations and has worked
out a time table for terminating its
work. BY the end of 1916, it expects to
have fulfilled this job it set out to do in
Europe. By the end of the first quarter
of 1947, it figures its operations in Asia
will be completed. How well the agency
will be able to acquit itself of it's re-
sponsibilities will depend largely on the
success of its request for more funds.
Up to the present, the United States
has authorized contribution of 81 $780,
900 000-roughly, 10 per cent of the total
of 81 $50 100000 assessed against the 81
uninvaded nations contributing to
UNRRA operating expenses. Of the
authorized sum, however, only 0O00O,-
900 has been appropriated by Congress
Noninvaded Shoulder Load.
Under the UNRRA financial plan, all
47 member nations contribute to the adj
ministrative costs, while only the ma
tons not invaded by the enemy con-
tribute to the so-called operating
expenses. Operating contributions, I'M.
der the first assessment, were fixed at
per cent of each nations income for
the year ending June 30, 1943 At last
months UNRRA Council session in Lon
don second per cent assessment was
imposed on motion of Assistant Secre-
tary of State Will L. Clayton. the
American delegate.
OF the first assessment against all
nations, 1888 100000 remains to be COL
lected. In this balance, the $3.50 ,000,0O0
authorized but unappropriated by the
United States Is by far the largest
amount. The bulk of the rest is repre-
scented by s2o,oooO0o of the s3O,OOOOOO
pledged by Brazil. In generous gesture,
that country agreed to contribute at the
rate of 13 per cent of its national in
come, with the proviso that the amount