New Britain herald., 1914-08-04
VOTES $250,0O0 FOR STRANDED AMERICANS
Congress Takes Initial Step at
 Request Of President Wilson

Washington. Aug. 4.-Plans were virtually completed last night for the care of Americans in war-torn Flu rope.
 Congress, at the request of Pres dent Wilson, appropriated $250,00O as an initial step and will grant more funds if desired. The appropriation will be used in caring for the inn meaidte needs of Americans, especial ly those without means of obtaining any funds.
 Americans who have letters of credit and travellers checks or other forms of money credit will be assist ed by American embassies in having them cashed. Instructions were is- sued to American diplomatic officers to issue ambassadors orders'' in eX- change for letters of credit, bank checks or money orders. Ambassa- dors Page in London and Herrick in France were asked to use their in tiuence with the British and French governments to obtain gold to cash these embassy checks if necessary.
 Friends and relatives of Americans abroad can deposit with the state de- partment here any sum they choose
 
 alent amount will be issued in Flu rope.
 Cooperate With Embassies.
 To make permanent arrangements for the financial accommodation of American citizens in Europe, Secre- taries Bryan and McAdoo have ar ranged with New York banking houses which will cooperate with American embassies abroad. Details of the plan have not yet been per- fected, but were discussed at confer ences last night between Secretary Brayn, Secretary McAdoo and rep resentatives of New York banking houses.
 As yet no definite arrangements have been made about ships. Army and navy officers say their transports are inadequate and many are not available.
 Today Secretary Bryan will dis cuss the subject with a representa- tive of the international mercantile marine. It has been suggested that some of the big ocean liners owned by companies in countries now at war should be neutralized so as to be able to carry Americans and other neutrals home. ,.. Such an arrange ment, however, is believed to be inn and it is most likely that if any ships are chartered they will be those of other neutral countries such as Norway, Sweden, Spain, Por- tugal or Holland.
 Enough Ships, Thinks. Bryan.
 Secretary Bryan thinks there are enough American and other neutral ships in service to take away thou sands who desire to leave. The state department made this announce ment.
 ''The secretary of state has re- ceived telegram from the Ameri can ambassa dor at Paris in which he states. that he thinks there is no cause for alarm on the part of those who re- main in that city for the present and that he believes Americans will be able to leave at some later date, if any desire to do so.''
 Cash deposits in all amounts and aggregating several hundred thousand dollars have poured into the consular bureau the amounts varying from a few yellow backs pinned to note, to a certified check for $3,0OO to be sent to a marooned daughter in Aus tria.
 Restricting Money Orders.
 Orders restricting the amount of money orders issued to European points will be issued probably tomor- row by the post office department. This was announced by Postmaster General Burleson last night after a with Secretaries McAdoo and Bryan.
 "It is not my purpose" MT. Burle- son said, ito restrict the money order service to a point where it will prove 1 injurious to any Americans in Europe who may be financially embarrassed now by the sudden turn of affairs there. It is the intention of the de- partment, however, to so restrict the 1 service that money cannot be trans ferred to Europe for speculative pur- poses."
 Mr. Burleson said that the mail | service between the United States and ! European states and European points | would not be seriously interrupted by l he war. Tentative plans for the reg 1lar transmission of mails by freight ! steamers have been virtually complet- ed by the department. If this :s | found to be impracticable, negotia- 1 tions will then be made to have ihe | Belgian and Holland governments l provide for the continuation of the | mail service. K NCAC TC unT nTAIT