COPY                            
 
                     2 Via Boncompagni                      
 
                  Rome, November 20, 1944.                  
 
                    Dear Mr. MacMillan:                     
 
                                                            
 
 
I am sending you herewith a file of documents that recount some of the   
recent activities which, in behalf of American Relief for Italy, Inc. we   
have developed.  As you are now being introduced into the theater of A. C.   
activities, I would like to make very clear to you tha tmy role in these   
serveral activites grows entirely out of the facr that, at the  instance   
of the President, in March of this year, I undertook to organize American   
Relief for Italy, Inc. It was difficult to assemble a group that was not   
tainted with too much of the Fascist infection which extended even into   
the Italian -American population, particularly among tha leaders.  Under   
these conditions it was difficult to set up such an organization, having   
in mind the objective of providing substantial quantities of materials and   
supplies for the relief of the distressed population of Italy.  The   
results achieved have been very satisfactory.  Tons of clothing and other   
     materials have already been assembled in America.      
 
                                                            
 
 
I came here in the middle of June.  Even at that time there was on hand in   
America a quantity of materials and supplies justifying a shipment by the   
middle of July.  We did not anticipate then that there would be any   
greater difficulty in shipping these needed garments, milk for babies and   
mothers , essential medicines, including vitamins, etc.  than had been in   
the first instance for Great Britain ( 1940 and since ), and later for   
Greece, Russia and China.  In the organization of these groups I served in   
one capacity or another, and in none of them delay rendered the   
   effectiveness of the project uncertain or impossible.    
 
                                                            
 
 
I am not including in these papers many telegrams and reports of   
conversations which passed between our government, the authorities in   
Italy and myself.   I have incorporated in this file a message which I   
sent to the President, the Secretary of State , the Chairman of the   
rican Red Cross and the President of American Relief for Ita
 
                    The Right Honorable                     
 
                      Harold MacMillan                      
 
             President of the Allied Commission             
 
                           Rome.