Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

840.50/995

Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, Draft No. 2, August 13, 1942

August 13, 1942

The Governments whose duly-authorized representatives have subscribed hereto,

Having subscribed to a common program of purposes and principles embodied in the Declaration of January 1, 1942, known as the United Nations Declaration and the Joint Declaration of the President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland dated August 14, 1941, known as the Atlantic Charter,

Being determined that immediately upon the liberation of any area by their armed forces the population thereof shall receive aid and relief from their sufferings, food, clothing and shelter, aid in the prevention of pestilence and in the recovery of the health of the people, and that preparation and arrangements shall be made for the return of prisoners and exiles to their homes, for the resumption of agricultural and industrial production and the restoration of essential services, to the end that peoples once freed may be preserved and restored to health and strength for the tasks and opportunities of building anew,

Have agreed as follows:

Article I

There is hereby established the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.

1. The Administration shall have power to acquire, hold and convey property, to enter into contracts and undertake obligations, to designate or create agencies and to review the activities of agencies so created, to manage undertakings and in general to perform any legal act appropriate to its objects and purposes.

2. The purposes and functions of the Administration shall be as follows:

(a) To plan, coordinate, administer or arrange for the administration of measures for the relief of victims of war in any area under the control of any of the United Nations through the provision of food, fuel, clothing and other basic necessities, housing facilities, medical and other essential services; and to facilitate in areas receiving relief the production and transportation of these articles and the furnishing of these services so far as necessary to the adequate provision of relief.

(b) To formulate and recommend measures for individual or joint action by any or all of the member governments for the coordination of purchasing, the chartering of ships and other procurement activities in the period following the cessation of hostilities, with a view to integrating the plans and activities of the Administration with the total movement of supplies, and for the purpose of achieving an equitable distribution of available supplies. The Administration may administer such coordination measures as the member governments authorize.

(c) To formulate and recommend for individual or joint action by the United Nations measures with respect to such related matters, arising out of its experience in planning and performing the work of relief and rehabilitation, as may be proposed by any of the member governments and approved by unanimous vote of the Policy Committee.

Article II

Membership

The members of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration shall be the governments or authorities signatory hereto and such other governments or authorities as may upon application for membership be admitted thereto by action of the Council or the Policy Committee thereof.

Article III

The Council

1. Each member government shall name one representative, and such alternates as may be necessary, upon the Council of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, which shall be the policy-making body of the Administration. The Council shall, for each of its sessions, select one of its members to preside at the session.

2. The Council shall be convened in normal session not less than twice a year by the Policy Committee. It may be convened in special session whenever the Policy Committee shall deem necessary, and shall be convened within thirty days after request therefor by a majority of the members of the Council.

3. The Policy Committee of the Council shall consist of the representatives of China, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, with the Director General presiding. Between sessions of the Council it shall exercise all the powers and functions thereof. It shall invite the participation of the representative of any member government at those of its meetings at which action of special interest to such government is discussed.

4. The Council may establish such standing committees as it considers desirable to advise it, and, in intervals between sessions of the Council, to advise the Policy Committee. The members of such committees shall be appointed by the Policy Committee, with the approval of the Council if it be in session, and otherwise, subject to its ratification, from members of the Council or alternates nominated for the purpose. Among these committees, the Council may establish regional committees to advise it on the making of plans and formulation of policy for the relief and rehabilitation of Europe, the Far East and of any other areas where such committees may be found desirable. The regional committees shall normally meet within the area and shall include members of the Council, or their alternates, representing the member governments directly concerned with the problems of relief and rehabilitation in that area. The Regional Committee on European Relief when so constituted shall take over and carry on the work of the Inter-Allied Committee on European Post War Relief established in London on September 24, 1941. For such technical standing committees as may be established, in respect of particular problems such as nutrition, health, agriculture, transport, materials and supplies, repatriation and finance, the members may be members of the Council or alternates nominated because of special competence in their respective fields of work. Should a regional committee so desire, subcommittees of these technical standing committees shall be established to advise the regional committees.

5. The travel and other expenses of members of the Council and its committees shall be borne by the governments which they represent.

Article IV

The Director General

1. The executive authority of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration shall be in the Director General, who shall be appointed by the Council on the nomination of the Policy Committee.

2. The Director General shall have full power and authority for carrying out relief operations contemplated by Article I, section 2 (a), within the limits of available resources and the broad policies determined by the Council or its Policy Committee. Immediately upon taking office he shall in conjunction with the military and other appropriate authorities of the United Nations prepare plans for the emergency relief of the civilian population in any area occupied by the armed forces of any of the United Nations, arrange for the procurement and assembly of the necessary supplies and create or select the emergency organization required for this purpose. In arranging for the procurement, transportation, and distribution of supplies and services, he and his representatives shall consult and collaborate with the appropriate authorities of the United Nations and shall, wherever practicable, use the facilities made available by such authorities. Foreign voluntary relief agencies may not engage in activity in any area receiving relief from the Administration without the consent and unless subject to the regulation of the Director General.

3. The Director General shall also be responsible for the organization and direction of the functions contemplated by Article I, sections 2 (b) and 2 (c).

4. The Director General shall appoint such Deputy Directors, other officers, expert personnel, and staff, at his headquarters or elsewhere, including the staff of field missions and secretarial and other necessary staff for the Council and its committees, and may delegate to them such of his powers as he may deem appropriate.

5. The Director General shall make periodic reports to the Council covering the progress of the Administration’s activities. These reports shall be made public except for such portions as the Director General may consider it necessary, in the interest of the United Nations, to keep confidential until the end of the war.

Article V

Supplies and Resources

1. Each member government pledges its full support to the Administration, within the limits of its available resources and subject to the requirements of its constitutional procedure, through contributions of funds, materials, equipment, supplies and services, for use in its own, adjacent or other areas in need, in order to accomplish the purposes of Article I, section 2 (a). All such contributions received by the Administration shall be accounted for.

2. The supplies and resources made available by the member governments shall be kept in review in relation to prospective requirements by the Director General, who shall initiate action with the member governments with a view to assuring additional supplies and resources as may be required.

3. All purchases by any of the member governments, made outside their own territories during the war for relief or rehabilitation purposes, shall be made only after consultation with the Director General, and shall, so far as practicable, be carried out through the appropriate United Nations agency.

Article VI

Administrative Expenses

The general administrative expenses shall be borne by the member governments in proportion to be determined by the Council. The governmental authority of any territory receiving aid from the Relief and Rehabilitation Administration shall in addition place at the disposal of the Administration any sums required in the currency of that territory for local expenditure in the administration or distribution of such aid.

Article VII

Amendment

The provisions of this agreement may be amended by unanimous vote of the Policy Committee and two-thirds vote of the Council.