The Job Starts

The United Nations took an unspectacular--but probably far-reaching--step toward postwar cooperation last week. They prepared to set up the first international executive agency to function in World War II: a United Nations Relief & Rehabilitation Administration to feed and clothe the people liberated by the advancing United Nations armies.

The proposal for UNRRA would have the United Nations pool resources and administrative talents for the vast job ahead. Each country would contribute financially--as far as its resources permit and its people, through their government, see fit.

A council, representing member nations, would set UNRRA policy and appoint a director general. Assisting him would be various standing committees--on supplies and on various geographical areas. Likely choice for director general: Herbert H. Lehman, present U.S. Director of the Foreign Relief & Rehabilitation Office.

Last week the U.S. State Department, after consultation with and with the approval of Britain, China and Russia, sent a draft agreement for UNRRA to the Governments of all United Nations and associated countries. It will probably be voted into operation at a United Nations conference here next August.

Need & Answer. The need for this type of international cooperation was amply demonstrated in North Africa, where the job of feeding the Axis-scourged countries has already begun (see cut). There the U.S. and Britain are learning to coordinate their relief activities; as the United Nations offensives widen, the problem will become worldwide.

To postwar planners, last week's announcement had a dual significance: 1) it paves the way for a more efficient reconstruction program than any nation could dare attempt alone, 2) it sets a precedent for international administration of other international problems. If the United Nations can work together efficiently at financing and operating a relief program, presumably they can also work together in other fields.

In Washington last week, another lesson from the North African campaign was put into practice. Agreed on by top officials who often found themselves tripping over one another's feet in North Africa was a general policy committee to coordinate all U.S. relief activities abroad.

Chairman of the committee will be brainy, sartorially elegant Dean Acheson, Assistant Secretary of State. Other members: Herbert H. Lehman, Edward R. Stettinius Jr. (Lend-Lease), Milo Perkins (Board of Economic Warfare), Henry Morgenthau (Treasury).

After consultation with his committee, Diplomat Acheson will appoint a field director for each liberated (or to-be-liberated) territory. The director will act as operations manager for all the agencies represented on the committee.

In Africa the U.S. learned that rehabilitation involves more than just handing out milk: it is also affected, for better or worse, every time Lend-Lease provides military supplies, BEW buys up local products or the Treasury dabbles in the local currency. For the bigger job ahead, these agencies agreed last week, they can no longer afford to work apart.

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