11. The Prime Minister said that the Secretary of State for External Affairs had enquired from Paris whether any Canadian relief could be provided for victims of the Po Valley floods. Mr. Pearson was particularly concerned because he would be presiding at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council beginning in Rome on Nov­ember 24th, 1951.¹⁶

It appeared that the Manitoba and British Columbia flood relief funds were not fully committed and that some measure of assistance might be provided from these sources. The Minister of Justice was taking up the matter with the Premier of Man­itoba and an approach would be made to those concerned in British Columbia. It might be difficult for the government to make a direct contribution in this case since this might create a precedent which would make it difficult to resist future similar requests, particularly if they originated in one of the NATO countries. Should it become necessary for the government to consider providing assistance in the present case, any contribution would probably have to be made indirectly through some such organization as the Canadian Red Cross. There might, of course, be cases of disasters abroad - such as the present widespread starvation in Northern Greece - which were beyond the means of the country concerned to relieve and where direct contributions might be necessary. The present disaster, however, did not appear to come within this category.

12. The Cabinet, after discussion, noted the report of the Prime Minister on the question of the provision of Canadian relief for victims of the Po Valley floods, and agreed that the Secretary of State for External Affairs be informed that:

(a) while it was not felt that the government would be able to make a direct contribution in this case, possibilities of indirect assistance were being investigated;

(b) at the same time, should one of the United Nations or North Atlantic Treaty bodies presently meeting in Europe recommend an international scheme for relief in Northern Italy, the government would be prepared to give it consideration.

¹⁶ Voir le document 512./See Document 512.