840.50/869b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
5952. Text of White House announcement dated November 21 follows:
“It was announced at the White House today that Governor Herbert H. Lehman of New York will resign as Governor on or about December 3, next in order to become associated with the Department of State as Director of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations. Governor Lehman will undertake the work of organizing American participation in the activities of the United Nations in furnishing relief and other assistance to the victims of war in areas reoccupied by the forces of the United Nations.
“This is a step in the President’s program of mobilizing the available resources of this country in food, clothing, medical supplies and other necessities so that it may make an immediate and effective contribution to joint efforts of the United Nations in the field of relief and rehabilitation. Governor Lehman’s appointment assures that this country will play its part in such efforts.”
This appointment as the announcement emphasizes does not in any sense represent a change in our approach to the problem of relief and rehabilitation, nor in the program indicated in our 5695.63 Governor Lehman’s work will be to plan and prepare this government’s share in the United Nations program, and to advise action by this government pending the establishment of the United Nations Administration.