Evening star., 1945-01-04
i. ). and Great Britain
Agree on Aid 10 Italy,
Stettinius Declares
Impression Greeted by
Quotation Of Excerpts
From Memo Regretted

Secretary Of State Stettinius de-
clared today that the United States
and Great Britain were in "basic
agreement" on a policy of aiding
Italy to rebuild its economic life and
make a maximum contribution to
the war effGt.
A series of discussions, he added,
have taken place on methods of
putting this policy into effect. There
have been no major difference"
between the Anglo-American powers
on this subject, he said.
The Secretary's comment was oc-
casioned by a quotation in Drew
Pearson's Washington column Of ex-
Icerpts from a memorandum of the
British Ambassador to the State De-
partment last August 20, indicating
a divergence of viewpoint between
Washington and London.
Part 81 Confidential Records.
THE document is part Of the
confidential records Of the depart
mentp Mr.. StettifIals SAid. aTh4
authorized pub tiou q anyp6Yt
of II h ID the hifh6st degre6 re-
trettablk and the matter Is beinS
pursued"
The Secretary said the memo was
part Of 1 series Of confidential docu-
ments and conversations which led
up to the joint Statement Of Sep
tember 26 by President Roosevelt
and Prime Minister Churchill on the
subject Of Italy.
1T cannot fairly be appraised out
OF the context Of these documents
and conversations" Mr.. Stettinius
said
He quoted the British memo as
saying:
The question of an expansion
OF the scope of the italian supply
program is already under consid-
Grafton by an interdepartmental
committee in London. His majesty's
government, would not, therefore,
wish to prejudice the work of this
committee by agreeing in advance
what the conclusions of its study
should be. So soon as the recon-
mendations Of the committee have
been made his majesty's govern
ment would wish to discuss the
matter further with the United
States Government"
Agreed on Expanded Program.
In reply, the State Department
said it believed it was probable that
the discussions referred to would
result in an agreement between
Washington and London as to the
scope of the italian relief program.
Subsequently Mr.. Stettinius said,
the British agreed to an expanded
supply program for Italy and on
September 26 the President and
MIR. Churchill issued a statement
which said in part:
First and immediate considera-
ton in Italy are the relief of hum
ger and sickness and fear. To this
end we instructed our representa-
tives at the United Nations Relief
and Rehabilitation Conference to
declare for the sending of medical
aid and other essential supplies to
Italy"
At its meeting In Montreal, the
UNRRA Council approved an alloca-
ton of $4,000, 900 for italy, but
specified that the money should be
spent entirely on food for children,
expectant and nursing mothers and
for medical assistance to districts
which were suffering from epidemics.
In Basic Agreement.
Since the exchange of views last
summer, Mr. Stettinius, said, there
have been further discussions be-
tween the American and British
governments on the italian relief
policy.
1T Is perfectly clear,' he said,
that the United States and the
United Kingdom governments are In
basic agreement In 1 desire to pro-
vide assistance to enable the Italians
to start rebuilding their economic
lie and furnish the maximum con-
tribution 70 the war effort.
1T Is especially reSrettable that, as
generally happens when excerpts
from documents Or one OF q series
OF documents are published without
authorization, IN erroneous and un-
justinable impression has been