Preparatory Commission Decides I.r.o. Will Assume Operational Responsibility July 1

The Preparatory Commission for the International Refugee Organization today agreed to assume operational responsibility for refugees and displaced persons in Europe and Asia as of July 1.

Representatives of eight governments agreed to advance their contributions to the body in order for it to begin financial operations. The commission also called upon UNRRA and the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees to transfer to it all funds which they still have available.

(At Lake Success today one of the major obstacles in the path of establishment of the I.R.O. was hurdled when Australia became the 16th nation to sign the I.R.O. constitution and assumed 1.76 percent of the agency’s first year’s operational budget. The I.R.O. will come into existence when at least 15 nations have subscribed unconditionally 75 percent of the first year’s budget of $151,060,500. To date five nations have subscribed 19.47 percent unconditionally, and eleven have conditionally pledged 56.05 percent.

(The members who have pledged funds unconditionally are: Australia, China, Iceland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The other eleven, whose signatures have not yet been ratified, are: Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Netherlands, Norway, Phillipines and the United States.)

Representatives of the Jewish Agency, World Jewish Congress, Agudas Israel and the Swiss Board of Refugees met here today and decided to press a joint campaign for the establishment of a special Jewish department within the framework of the I.R.O. They also outlined general plans to provide special care for an estimated 440,000 Jews. It is expected that the I.R.O. headquarters will be established either in Geneva or Paris.