Following are minutes of a meeting of the Advisory Group concerning   
relief held January 29, 1945 in the office of Ambassador Myron C. Taylor,   
chairman of American Relief for Itlay, Inc.
 
     
 
 
The following were in attendance: Brig. G. S. Parkinson, D.S.O., director   
of Public Health Subcommission; Mgr. John P. Carrol-Abbing, Director of Sanitary   
Services of Pontifical Commission for Aid to Refugees; Ing. Enrico P. Galeazzi,   
architect of the Sacred Apostolic Palaces and Special Delegate to the Pontifical   
Commission of the State of the Vatican City; Dr. L. Lapponi of the Italian   
Red Cross; Prof. John A. Canaeperia M.D., Inspector General of Public Health   
Department of Ministry of Interior; and Mr. Howard B. Barr, Asistant to Mr.   
Taylor.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: I am very glad to have Mr. Barr back.  During his absence Mr.   
Silber had been taking his place.  Mr. Silber is now in Sicily with Ing. Vicentini.    
He will be back in a day or two.  Mr. Silber has been ordered to Greece for   
the American Red Cross so that he will be leaving us some time later in the   
week.  He has done excellent service and we are very grateful to him for his   
assistance.  He is very competent and energic and has been successful in all   
his undertakings.
 
     
 
 
Brig. Gen. Parkinson has been on a journey in some of the devastated areas   
and also has intersted himself in converting materials which he has been able   
to recover from the Army waste stocks into useful garments.  He will explain   
about that work.  will you give us some information on your visit?
 
     
 
 
Brig. Parkinson: Putting it very briefly I think I can deal with it in   
this way: that in the period of five months the change in the population is,   
as I consider it, for the better. There is a great deal of reconstruction   
taking place, people are working, they seem to be better satisfied, there is   
not that feeling of depression that there was some time ago. They are really   
starting to help themselves. The appearance in one institution I visited must   
be a hundred percent better. The girls, all ages, looked fit and well, better   
nourished and cared for.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: Where was that?
 
     
 
 
Brig.Parkinson: In Naples. I might say that it seemed they were doing   
more to help themselves--I noticed that throughout my visit.  I don't want   
to suggest that everything is a hundred percent good.  I would say there is   
a very vast change. I passed through some of the coastal areas, as well as   
Cassino and Frosinone. I would also report of seeing children wearing the   
clothing which had been distributed at Christmas time by ENDSI.  I saw   
Cessino the day the Germans left. There is a difference now in the people.  
Their appearance is quite changed. I visited soup kitchens and saw them   
preparing the midday meal. I spoke to some about it. They all seemed very   
content with what they were getting.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: You said that the welfare branch of AC would issue  
additional food in some cases?
 
     
 
 
Brig. parkinson: Yes.  Apart from the ordinary basic ration which is supplies,   
when information is received that any particular area is in dire want arrangements   
are made to give a supplementary ration.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: By whom?