Mr. Taylor: Another question which is most important. The UNRRA   
organization have representatives here in Rome. They have not been to see us   
representing ARI. They have been to see the AC and the Government. They are   
making suggestions about the field in which they will operate in Italy and   
conditions under which they will operate here. At the same time, in the United   
States they have proposed a UNRRA drive for 150 million pounds of clothing.    
They have put an intelligent man who understands advertising thoroughly well   
at the head of that drive. They have asked ARI to join in that drive. Up to   
the present we have not done so. I am opposed to it and have so advised both   
the State Department and Judge Marchisio in New York, giving my reasons. I am   
going to send him a telegram today to the effect that the conduct of the ARI   
must be determined by its Board of Directors, not by an individual, but that   
my judgment remains unchanged. It is only my personal judgment. I don't mind   
giving you the reasons. There is a personal relationship between the Italian   
Americans and Italy which is lost in the United Nations drive, but which is   
present in ARI. There is uncertainty as to the participation which ARI will   
have in the results of the UNRRA drive. They indicate that these materials   
would be largely used in the areas where the need is greatest. We don't know   
where the need is greatest in the minds of the directors of the UNRRA   
organization. It might be in various places other than Italy. Someone might   
decide Italy has reached the point where the crisis is over with relation to   
need. The plan prevents ARI, or any separate national organization or group,   
from carrying on a drive for clothing for two months prior to April, during   
the month of April, or during the month of May. So there are four months in   
which you can't make a public drive for materials.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Barr: I might interject to say those are the months when people cast   
off winter clothing, and any drive conducted in the summer brings nothing.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: I have a feeling of trusteeship, personal responsibility to   
the organization, that I was asked to create in America, which is ARI. I feel   
that relationship compels me, in view of the best interests of Italy, to take   
the position which I do and will take and won't change. But the trustees are   
the better judges. They are on the ground. They will have to determine. In   
the meantime, during January and February, we will continue our drive, and we   
are getting, as Mr. Burr indicated to me, an increased contribution since the   
end of the year when the news of our activities became understood in america,   
so that we are going to have two million pounds.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Barr: Approximately 2,000 tons.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: Plus the accumulation of January and February, to meet the   
spring and summer season, which will carry us quite a long way forward.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Barr:Your drive in April will give clothing for the next winter. It   
would not be in our hands before August of this year.
 
     
 
 
Mr. Taylor: That doesn't, however, interfere with our milk and vitamin   
distribution, which can be accumulated without public drive, both during the   
period of the UNRRA drive and preceding that time. We will probably concentrate   
more or less upon that. We can operate in that field or in the field of piece   
goods if we can be permitted to get them.  All the money that the National   
War Fund will allocate to us which isn't needed for other purposes and which   
should be a substantial amount, can be used.