The Future of U.N.R.R.A.
The problem of the Polish-Jewish refugees is, however, only one factor in the even larger problem of refugees and displaced persons in general ; the difficulty of finding a solution is increased because U.N.R.R.A. itself is due to wind up its activities by the end of 5946. No one who knows anything of the condition of Europe today can believe that U.N.R.R.A.'s vast work of relief and reconstruction will be completed by the end of this year ; to take one example only, it is estimated that by the end of the year an irreducible core of 350,000 displaced persons will still be left who cannot for various reasons be returned to their own countries. The problem of relief for Europe is not simply a humanitarian one, though humanitarian grounds alone demand that U.N.R.R.A.'s activities should be con- tinued and extended. Politically also the relief and reconstruction of Europe are a pressing necessity, because until Europe can recover some measure of economic prosperity and stability there is little hope that her peoples will forget the hatreds and the high passions which the war has inspired. Unless they are assisted to achieve economic recovery, the Nazis, .even in defeat, will have achieved one of their main objects, which was so to divide Europe by fear and hatred that there could never be a strong, stable and united European system against which their movement would be powerless. U.N.R.R.A is, or could be, the most powerful instrument we possess for setting Europe on her feet ; it is a welcome move on the part of the British Government that the British delegation to U.N.O. has tabled a resolu- tion calling for the continuation of the work of U.N.R.R.A.
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