§ 18. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that, when drawing up a programme of relief to needy countries in accordance with paragraph 5 of the General Assembly Resolution of 11th December, 1946, he will make provision for the allotment of a proportion of the relief to each of the six European countries certified by the U.N.O. Special Technical Committee as needing financial assistance to meet minimum requirements in 1947.
Mr. McNeilIn an answer to my hon. Friend on 3rd February, it was made clear that we have not sufficient resources to undertake large scale financial assistance to needy countries. The possibility of giving some assistance by way of grants or credits for raw materials is, however, not excluded. Scope for this assistance is limited, and it would necessarily be given piecemeal. I am not yet in a position to say how such limited assistance may be divided up.
§ Mr. WarbeyWhile recognising that the assistance which this country is able to give must regrettably be small this year, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that we shall maintain the principle of international solidarity, and base our allocations on the technical assessments of the Special Committee?
Mr. McNeilWe cannot base our allocations on technical assessments. We must do so on such resources as we have to give.
§ 19. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which members of U.N.O. have submitted to the Secretary General information concerning their plans for assisting in meeting relief needs in 1947.