Canada at War: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: Around a U-Shaped Table

In Montreal’s staid, 600-room Windsor Hotel, the delegates, 350-odd strong, came in from all parts of the world. The Russian brought their own caviar. Drinking delegates paid $14.50 a bottle for Scotch that was selling in Quebec stores for $7.25. Some 60 delegates, including the U.S. group, were sideswiped by the hurricane (see U.S. AT WAR) which marooned their train. They were 16 hours late. Finally the representatives of 44 nations put their feet under a tremendous U-shaped table and opened the second session of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.

As chairman, the delegates selected a Canadian, shrewd, friendly Lester Bowles (“Mike”) Pearson, the Dominion’s Minister Plenipotentiary to the U.S.

The session, to last at least a week, would be a troubled one. Some nations, particularly the Latin Americas, were slow in contributing their agreed shares (1% of their national incomes). Up to July 17, only $7,365,650 had been received—and administrative costs for 1944 alone would be $10,000,000. Another thing: at its first meeting (in Atlantic City,last November), UNRRA had decided not to go into any liberated country until military authorities called for aid. But already much of France and Belgium was free—and as yet, no call.

As the sessions got under way, Director-General Herbert Lehman admitted the prevalence of rumors that “we are not doing as much as some people expected. …” He admitted that “greater cooperation is still to be desired.” He denied one rumor—that he would resign. Delegates had tough policy matters to settle, too. Should UNRRA help ex-enemy Italy? If so, would Germany be eligible? And Japan? It would take a majority vote to effectuate such aid. One delegate was on record. China’s Tsiang Ting-fu favored making “the necessities of life available to the Japanese after the war.”