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of whom, though technically Italian nationals, are of Greek origin. Similar resolutions from the ugoslav representative on behalf of the inhabitants of certain areas to the west of the present Italo-Yugoslav frontier," and from the Polish representative on behalf of Polish minorities in Germany, were withdrawn. (ii) PROCUREMENT OF SUPPLIES 1 Lie relationship of UNRRA to the Combined Board machinery with respect to the procurement and allocation of relief supplies, which was probably the issue 011 which opinions were most divided at Atlantic City, was scarcely raised at all at Montreal. This was 110 doubt in part due to the fact that the general supply situation was reported as being a good deal more favourable than had been feared. There has indeed been considerable discussion recently in the United States and Canada of the problem of " agricultural surpluses," and while several key commodities, notably fats, sugar, and leather, are still expected to be in very short supply, the general situation is represented as being much improved. There is, however, 110 reason to believe that those who a year ago strongly favoured a widening of the bases of the Combined Boards have in the meantime modified their views on this subject. Nor is there any justification for any supplying country taking a less serious view of its responsibilities for ensuring that adequate supplies will in fact he available, and, accordingly, relaxing its willingness to maintain suitable restrictions on consumption for some time after the war. The volume of supplies already formally earmarked as at the disposition of UNRRA is still quite small, but the more important thing is to assure that at the appropriate moment it will be possible without delay to divert from the current stream of output a volume of supplies adequate to meet UNRRA's requirements. In this connection, the stock-piles accumulated for military purposes and in Great Britain as insurance against the risks of interruptions, in shipping and of enemy air attack are likely to play an important part, I here have been some fears that UNRRA had been a little slow in placing its requirements before the Combined Boards, interpreting with undue caution the obligation laid upon it to aim at lair' results in any estimate it might make of over-all requirements, and therefore delaying action until it could feel perfectly certain that the requirements of equity had been fully satisfied, at least on paper. A formal amendment of earlier resolutions was intended; to ensure that UNRRA's work was not unduly impeded by scruples of this kind; UNRRA is now in a position to present its estimates without unnecessary delay, and the general picture presented of requirements! already 1 formally presented or in preparation was satisfactory. Membership of the Committee of Supplies was extended to twelve by the addition of India. (Hi) DISTRIBUTION POLICIES The recommendations of the Committee of the Council for Europe regarding bases for leliel' requirements were submitted to the Council and approved by il. Except in relation to food, the bases recommended inevitably remain vague and imprecise. For food the standard adopted is 2,650 calories per person per day, but even this is more a target to be aimed al. than a standard upon which all the individuals concerned can confidently rely. I he Soviet member ol the Council sponsored a resolution foi* preferential treatment in I'eliel to countries whose pop illations had suffered 1o I lie greatest extent from enemy occupation and who had actively participated in fighting and resisting the enemy. Opinion was again naturally divided about the equity of any principle which would convert UNRRA from a relief organization into an instrument for rewards and punishments, but in any event the practical consideration that the adoption ol this resolution would impose upon the Administration an impossible task was overwhelming. A compromise was eventually adopted "that special weight and urgency shall be given to the needs of those countries in which the extent of devastation and of the sufferings of the people in a part or the whole of their respective areas is greater and has resulted from hostilities and occupation by the enemy and active resistance in the struggle against the enemy." (iv) FINANCE At the opening of the Montreal session, twenty-eight member States had paid their full quota for administrative expenses for the current year, while Czechoslovakia, Egypt, the U.S.S.R., and Yugoslavia had paid a portion of their quota. During the session, Brazil and Venezuela announced the payment of their quotas, so that contributions now remain to be received for 1944 from Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Several of these countries have indicated that the constitutional machinery for authorizing payment has already been put in motion; the volume of outstanding contributions is relatively small; the Administration has not been impeded by lack of funds in the expansion of its administrative activities, and it is estimated that $4 millions will be available to be carried over into 1945.

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