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 |