Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, General, Volume I

840.50/2885

Memorandum by President Roosevelt to the Secretary of State ⁷

In Re: Organization of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration:

(1) The Secretary of State shall in collaboration with the Special Assistant to the President in charge of UNRRA⁸ and subject to the approval of the President:

A. Formulate and approve all plans relating to the policy of this Government vis-à-vis UNRRA;

B. Represent and speak for the President in all negotiations within the U. S. Government as to the policies to be established relating to UNRRA, the representation of this Government on UNRRA,⁹ and the plans for the establishment of UNRRA,¹⁰ for its interim financing,¹¹ and for the first meeting of the UNRRA Council;¹²

C. Exercise general oversight and supervision over all these matters; and

D. Obtain from other U. S. agencies the detail of personnel, on a non-reimbursable basis, to render service in connection with the aforesaid duties and with the first meeting of the UNRRA Council.

(2) The Department of State will continue to handle all negotiations with other governments, and will make the necessary physical arrangements for the UNRRA Conference and for the first meeting of the UNRRA Council.

(3) A. As I stated in my letter of June 3, 1943, to the Secretary of State:¹³

“I want the facilities of our civilian agencies operating in the international economic field utilized to the fullest extent. It is equally essential that the transition from military to civilian operations in liberated areas be consummated as speedily and efficiently as possible.”

The reference to “our civilian agencies” is equally applicable to UNRRA within the provisions of Article VII of the proposed UNRRA agreement.

B. Prior to the creation of UNRRA, any arrangements made with respect to the performance of relief and rehabilitation activities by U. S. civilian agencies will be made after consultation with the Special Assistant to the President in charge of UNRRA preparations.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

October 19, 1943.

7. A memorandum of October 20 by the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Acheson) stated: “I hand you herewith the memorandum on the organization of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration signed by the President. This will, of course, give you authority to proceed in accordance with its terms. ES.”
8. Samuel I. Rosenman.
9. For list of persons representing the U.S. Government at the first session of the Council, see Department of State Bulletin, November 6, 1943, p. 311.
10. For text of agreement for the establishment of UNRRA, signed at Washington on November 9, 1943, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 352, or 57 Stat. (pt. 2) 1164; for further correspondence on this subject, see pp. 851 ff. The Director General, appointed by the Council (first session), was empowered (by art. IV, par. 2 of the Agreement), immediately upon taking office, to create the required emergency organization. From November 11, 1943, to January 1, 1944, the Director General was the only member of the Administration’s staff, although during that period a temporary secretariat and staff were made available by the United States Government.
11. See memorandum of October 11, p. 1027.
12. See Department of State publication No. 2040, First Session of the Council of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration: Selected Documents, Atlantic City, New Jersey, November 10–December 1, 1943.
13. For full text, see Department of State Bulletin, June 26, 1943, p. 575.