Evening star., 1946-08-10
Poles Leod Fight
To Keep UNRRA
Six Nations Plead for Help To
Re.establish Economies
By Doris FIeeson

BY Doris FtePS0n
GENEVA, Aug. 8 (By Wireless) With
Poland taking the lead strongly. the
drive to continue the United Nations
Relief and Rehabilitation Administra-
tion in some form is under way here
at the UNRRA council meeting at the
old League of Nations Palace.
Six nations have pleaded they could
not re-establish a stable economy for
themselves without help in l947 and
there are more pleas to come. A seventh,
Norway. proudly stated she has been
transformed from a receiving into q
contributing country but urged, in be-
half Of those still in. need, that new
funds be appropriated to bridge the gap
between the expiration OF UNRRA on
December 81 next and the 1947 harvests.
Poland Belligerent.
The only show of belligerence came
from Poland, which attacked the Amer
lean assurance Of future help through
other channels as plausible but only
so many fair words"
Others were more cautious. China,
one of two great powers receiving
UNRRA aid, was almost noncommittal.
Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece and Czecho-
slovakia dwelled upon their plight and
avoided any controversial reference to
American policy.
The current discussions are for the
record in the hope that public opinion
will rally its support for some more spe-
ciflc arrangements than the American
proposals to end UNRRA, to shift the
relief administrations unfinished busi-
ness to other United Nations agencies,
and to depend upon normal trade chan
nels to cover future needs.
When all nations represented here
have had their say, deals looking toward
compromise will start to ferment in
side the committee room, with Great
Britain taking the lead. In these con-
ferences, so replete with tales of want
and misery. Norway's report was pure
sunshine.
The Norwegian delegate reported that
after Norway had received valuable help
in the first peace year she had con-
tributed $6,000,0O to the current UNRRA
program and had established further
credit of 100000 which represents
one-half OF per cent of her national
income. After agreeing that UNRRA
should cease and that the U. N should
take over, she proposed that con-
tributing nations should consider the
possibility OF donating another one-half
OF l per cent of their national incomes
for the hiatus between the ending of
UNRRA and the next harvest period.
Norway Defends U. S.
Norway also came to Americas de-
Tense. She said she could not agree
with Poland that American plans were
only mice words"
China explained she would require
minimum of 1862 SOC, 900 help next
year. Austria estimated her needs
at $3l0,000,000, of which only 500 900 900
could come from exports. She dwelled
graphically on her problem because
of having four occupying armies on
her soil. UNRRA sources agree that
these nations both need substantial and
continued aid.
4ugoslaVla wants $500 900 900 worth Of
help next year. UNRRA believes she
will require 5000, 100000. Her national
income is only $1,000, ,Ooo 900, the Yugo-
slav delegate said, and the enemy had
inflicted enormous damage on her.
Greece sadly said that stoppage of
aid would be at the risk of infiicting
upon her a Chronic incapacity to re-
cover" UNRRA sources agreed with
the Greek statement. The Czechs sug-
gested further needs of $3.50 900 900, but
UNRRA sources believe their organiza-
ton can pull out of Czechoslovakia
without materially damaging her econ
omy. Director General La Guardia will
fly to Prague this week end to discuss
the situation with President Benes.
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