840.50/1421
The Minister Counselor of the Canadian Legation (Pearson) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Acheson)
Dear Mr. Acheson: In connection with discussions now proceeding on the proposed United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Organization, I would like to bring to your attention the suggestion made by those interested in Ottawa which might make easier the extension of the Policy Committee of the proposed Organization. It is thought that certain difficulties might be avoided if Switzerland or Sweden could be added to the Policy Committee in place of one of the Allied European Governments. This could, of course, be done only indirectly, since the proposed Organization will be an organization of the United Nations; but it might be possible to insert a clause in the plan authorizing a Policy Committee of six to co-opt a neutral European country as an additional member. If this scheme proved feasible, it would have the advantage that the Russian objection based on the possible nomination of Poland would automatically disappear. Furthermore, the use of Swiss or Swedish territory and personnel might be of great assistance to the Relief Organization in getting started in Europe immediately after the end of the war. There are obvious difficulties about this course, but they may be less serious than the difficulties in selecting one member from the Allied Governments in London.
I would be glad if you would give this suggestion your consideration and let me know what you think of it.
Yours sincerely,