the War Department's position is as you set it forth in Point 3 of your
message; this, also, is subject to the recommendations and views of the
theater commander as to the most suitable manner of handling the clothing
which the War Department has requested. The cause of the delay, and the
chief difficulty in accomplishing the arrangements is said to be the
insistance on free distribution of the clothing.
In the last paragraph of your message you made reference to a statement
about all supplies which were contributed being put in an Allied pool and
being turned aside to other countries. This statement is not correct; the
supplies of clothing will be shipped to the areas or the countries for
which they were intended or for which they were contributed. Untrue
rumors and statements on this subject have been circulated, for the
purpose of making mischief, according to the War Relief Control Board.
The correct facts about the distribution of clothing will be published
very soon in Italy and elsewhere; arrangments are now being made for
this.
With reference to the activites and the status of private relief agencies
on a voluntary basis, such agencies as the American Relief for Italy,
Incorporated, the State Department, after consulting the President's War
Relief Control Board and other agencies tha are interested, has taken the
position that relief in freed areas during the period of hte emergency
should carried out through governmental channels, and that voluntary
private relief agencies should complement and supplement action of the
government so far as such complementary activities are possible within the
limits of the supplies available and other facilities essential to relief
operations, such as shipping space, port acceptances, and others. Also,
is the view of the Department with reference to Americna Re