U.S. At War: What of UNRRA?

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The Russians have not paid their allocation in full; they have refused any cooperation in Poland, except the belated opening of ports to receive supplies. UNRRA has not yet signed an agreement with the Lublin Government.

"The Hell with It." In Washington, UNRRA's management is hopelessly enmeshed in red tape. Example:

If an UNRRA employe on the operating level in Washington wants to straighten out some tangled matter with his opposite number in the London office, he writes a letter. It moves through UNRRA channels—to the division chief, the chief of requirements and allocations, and finally to the appropriate deputy director. Having thus gathered several other signatures, it is ready to move out. The process is repeated in reverse in the London office, and if the recipient answers, the rigmarole begins all over again. Said one UNRRA employe last week: "By the time we get an answer through this jungle we've said the hell with it."

UNRRA now has some 3,200 employes, 1,900 in the field, 1,300 in Washington and London offices. But not even UNRRA's staunchest defenders claim that its personnel is anywhere near competent. Average salary for a field worker is $3,600. Starting late in the hiring field, UNRRA found most capable men already in the Army or in better-paying Government or private jobs. What UNRRA got, in general, were culls, drifters through Government hiring halls, and plain incompetents.

The Test. It is quite possible that even with better management and personnel UNRRA could not have achieved an impressive record before the end of hostilities in Europe. Herbert Hoover's famed United States Food Administration in World War I did not really get down to business until after the Armistice. Then Mr. Hoover was able to hire 1,500 employes out of the Army and Navy. (The U.S. military is now prepared to release some men for UNRRA work.)

Relief Administrator Hoover had one great advantage: he was the absolute boss, responsible to no one except the President; there were no international complications. But he also moved with vigor and energy.

Last week UNRRA's Director General Lehman—no Herbert Hoover in his performance up to now—revamped his staff, announced that he would now spend as much time in Europe as in Washington. It was high time; the whole world was watching.