Further Red Cross Relief in Poland Hinges on Nicholson Report from Cracow

Further distribution of American Red Cross supplies in Poland will depend upon reports received from James T. Nicholson, Red Cross representative due to arrive in Cracow today, it was learned.

If the complete agreement signed by the Red Cross with the German Government is honored by the Nazis, the Red Cross will continue its distribution of supplies valued at $1,000,000. The German Government gave assurances that the Red Cross supplies would be allocated to the Polish Red Cross, Jewish and other Polish organizations for distribution.

Nicholson, who was able to enter Cracow only for a “visit” and not for continuous supervision of supplies, will report on the manner in which supplies have been distributed thus far, it was learned. He will confer with Governor-General Hans Frank in Cracow.

Red Cross Chairman Norman H. Davis explained that Cracow has been selected as the distribution point for American Red Cross supplies to Poland now being routed through the Mediterranean and shipped overland from Genoa. Relief expenditures for Poland, including assistance to Red Cross societies of neighboring neutral countries harboring Polish refugees, now totals $397,150, he stated.

In addition, shipments of surgical dressings and clothing produced by Red Cross chapter volunteers throughout the United States have amounted to $45,471. Polish relief cash expenditures of the American Red Cross have been confined to medicines, hospital supplies and clothing.

The significance of Nicholson’s departure for Cracow lies in the fact that Red Cross supplies had previously been distributed in Poland without American supervision. The Red Cross had charged that Nicholson had been blocked by the Nazi authorities in efforts to reach Cracow and had threatened to halt the sending of supplies unless American supervision was arranged.