840.50/2764a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)22
6228. Department’s No. 5830, September 22.23 You are instructed to include the text quoted below in a note to the appropriate official of the British Government and to inform that Government that similar notes are being presented to all of the Governments considering the draft agreement for a United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.24
[Page 1001]“I am instructed by my Government to inform you that arrangements have been made for the use of the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City for the first session of the Council of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration if that organization is brought into existence by signature of the proposed agreement by the United Nations and the Nations associated with them in this war. If this plan is agreeable to other Governments, my Government would propose signature of the agreement in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday evening, November 9, and the assembly of the Council for its first session at the Claridge Hotel on Wednesday afternoon, November 10.
Arrangements have been made to reserve the Claridge Hotel for the exclusive use of the Council for approximately 4 weeks on the assumption that such a period will be ample to enable the Council to transact the business of its first session.
The Government of the United States expects to lay before the the Council for its consideration a draft of agenda, a draft of temporary rules and regulations and proposals for temporary ad hoc committees for the first session of the Council somewhat along the following lines: There might be four general committees on which all governments would be represented, covering (1) organization and administration, (2) general policy matters, (3) problems of finance and supplies, and (4) policies of relief and rehabilitation. Such committees if established might expedite their work by appointing smaller subcommittees. For instance, the committee on organization and administration might have smaller groups working on the organization of the Council and its standing committees, on permanent rules and regulations of the Council, on the personnel policies of the Administration, and on the administrative budget, auditing and other financial procedures. The committee on general policy might have smaller groups reporting to it on the scope of UNRRA’s activities, on relations with member governments, on relations with non-member governments, and on relations with other inter-governmental agencies. Under the committee on finance and supplies there might be separate groups on means of financing supplies, services and administration, and on procedures for ascertaining and meeting deficits in supplies requiring importation. The committee on relief and rehabilitation policies might have sub-groups in such specialized fields as the policies governing relief distribution, policies with respect to health and medical care, policies with respect to welfare services including relations with foreign voluntary relief agencies, policies with respect to assistance to displaced persons, policies relating to agricultural rehabilitation essential to relief, and policies relating to the rehabilitation of such industries, transport and other services as are essential to relief.
Whatever specific plan the Council may adopt to govern its work during the first session, it seems probable that opportunity will be found for discussion during the course of the session of the subjects listed above and perhaps other subjects of special interest to member governments. It is assumed that at some time during the session, after study of the permanent organization of the Council by the appropriate temporary committee, the Council will establish the standing committees contemplated in the agreement, including the supplies committee and the regional committees.
[Page 1002]In view of the difficulty of transportation at this time, it is assumed that each member government will wish to restrict the size of its delegation so far as practicable. If the Council establishes four general ad hoc committees along the lines suggested above, the sessions of these committees might be so arranged as to enable each member government to be represented on each of these committees. Since the reports and recommendations of any subcommittees established would be cleared through these general committees before presentation to the Council, presumably each member government would be represented only on those subcommittees in which it would have a special interest and for which it could provide specially qualified members.
The Government of the United States probably will designate a counsellor for each of the four main subjects of discussion enumerated above to assist the U.S. member of the Council, as well as a few advisers or technical experts as shall seem necessary. More specific information regarding the United States delegation will be communicated to your Government in the near future.
It will be of assistance in arranging for necessary accommodations if your Government will supply as soon as possible detailed information regarding the delegation which it plans to send to the proposed first session of the Council.”