§ 113. Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have been made to carry on relief work in China when U.N.R.R.A. ceases to operate and by whom this work will be undertaken; and what consideration is being given to the lessons to be learnt from the experiences of U.N.R.R.A. in China so that mistakes that have come to light will be avoided in future.
Mr. McNeilThe U.N.R.R.A. programme for China is not likely to be completed until the Autumn of 1947. The question of what needs, if any, there will be in the countries now receiving assistance from U.N.R.R.A., after the termination of the latter's operations, has been referred to the General Assembly of the United Nations in a resolution by the Fifth Session of the U.N.R.R.A. Council which met at Geneva from 5th to 16th August. It will be for the General Assembly to decide how the problem should be handled, but the first essential is to establish whether any external assistance is required, apart from loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other lending agencies. This is largely a question of deficits on balance of payments, which cannot be reliably estimated so long in advance, and not a question of relief and rehabilitation for which U.N.R.R.A. was constituted. As to the experience gained by U.N.R.R.A., this would no doubt be made available to any agencies which might operate in China. I understand that U.N.R.R.A. have already appointed an historian to chronicle their activities in China and his work should provide a valuable record of experience on which all concerned may draw.