840.50 UNRRA/12–345:Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 4—12:30 p.m.]
3868. Personal for the Secretary and Clayton. In Dept’s instruction Nr 715 of October 1645 replying to my inquiry as to what plan was proposed to finance supplies for Italy in case UNRRA appropriation is not granted it was indicated that while no alternative [Page 1048] plans had been prepared there would undoubtedly be discussed the question of American policy in aiding Italy during the hearings with respect to UNRRA appropriations. A practical answer to that question even if only for provisional application is critically needed at this moment since the approach of the reported Congressional recess in December without definite action having been secured on the authorization and appropriation of the new one percent contribution to UNRRA, makes a gap in the basic supply line to Italy a real and very dangerous possibility. It leaves those who are in charge of supply program in a position where they do not know who will be responsible for loading supplies for Italy after 31 December less than a month from today.
In my opinion it is of crucial importance to our political and economic policy toward Italy and to world stability in general that supplies continue to arrive in a regular flow throughout the winter months in at least the monthly quantities provided for in the FEA $100,000,000 program.
Since insofar as is known here the UNRRA appropriation is not now assured as to the time factor I urgently recommend that the Dept consider seriously the possibility of obtaining from Congress another special emergency interim appropriation, comparable to the FEA $100,000,000 appropriation which can be used to keep the supply line open during at least the next 2 months (January and February loading). If this particular arrangement is not practicable some similar action should be taken to accomplish immediately the same purpose since the time is so short that the agencies here charged with the supply program cannot continue to gamble on the uncertain progress of the UNRRA legislation in Congress, as far as January and February loadings are concerned.
For necessary orientation here an urgent reply in connection with the foregoing and indicating expected course of action would be appreciated.
Sent Dept., repeated Caserta 1167.
- Not printed.↩