A—2a

"8. No organization now exists or has been designated which, after the termination of UNKRA, can advise the United Nations of the means to provide further financial assistance if and when required ; it is therefore—- " Resolved " A. That the Council recommends—- " 1. That the General Assembly of the United Nations, after consideration of the relief and rehabilitation problems to be dealt with in 1947, forthwith establish or designate such agency or agencies as it may deem appropriate, whose functions shall include — " (a) A review of the needs in 1947 for financing urgent imports of the basic essentials of life, particularly food and supplies for agricultural production, after the termination of UNRRA programmes to the extent that they cannot otherwise be met; and " (6) The making of recommendations as to the financial assistance that might be required to meet such needs as are found to exist as a result of foreign exchange difficulties which cannot be dealt with by existing agencies. ''2. That the Council delegates immediately consult with their respective Governments with a view to the issuance of instructions by the member Governments to their representatives in the General Assembly to secure the adoption and implementation of the foregoing recommendation. " B. That the Council requests the Director-General to transmit this recommendation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for consideration at the next meeting of the General Assembly, and, in agreement with the Central Committee, to consult with and assist such agency or agencies as may be established or designated by the United Nations in order to facilitate its work." And so the problem is passed to the United Nations Assembly, for attention, it is hoped, in New York in October-November, 1946. Forthcoming problems, of supply especially of food, for war-stricken countries seem at this stage to have an element of difficulty greater than those connected with some other UNRRA problems—for example, displaced persons and health. It may be hoped that, reasonably quickly, new United Nations bodies will be able to take over these latter tasks. But where is the comparable body to take over supply problems, in particular, food problems, up till now dealt with by UNRRA ? The Food and Agriculture Organization may be part, but it cannot be more than a part, of the answer. It is not, and was not designed to be, an " operating agency." It lacks funds. Note is taken of the proposal for a " World Food Board " ; but again it does not seem to be even intended to deal with immediately pending shortage problems. Without, one may hope, belittling the relevance of FAO to immediate problems, the Council of UNRRA agreed to recommend—- " That the Food and Agriculture Organization at its forthcoming meeting in Copenhagen consider the special problem of the liberated countries with a view to providing the maximum technical assistance in the expeditious re-establishment of their agricultural production." Stress is laid, and properly so, on the " lack of foreign exchange." So what of " Bretton Woods " and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development ? The answer, alas, seems conclusive that advances for current consumption are not within its competence ; and food is in a category more unfavourable than other supply items. Thus the problems, which UNRRA for lack of funds must presently pass into other hands, depend for their handling mainly on the provision of funds. And conversely, when deserved tributes are paid to UNRRA, the substantial funds made available to

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