Evening star., 1916-10-17
WAR POWERS BALK
RELIEF FOR POLAND
President Announces Failure
to Get European BeIIiger-
ents to Agree.
SENT LETTERS TO RULERS

LONG BRANCH, \. J., October H.
President Wilson announced today that
his efforts to bring about an agreement
among belligerent nations to allow re-
lief supplies to be sent to Poland had
failed.
The President gave out statement
saying he had received replies from the
rulers of Great Britain, France, Rus
sia. Germany and Austria Hungary to
letter he sent in July suggesting that
those nations combine to assist IN
Polish relief work.
The statement follows:
II have now received replies from
the King of England. the President of
France, the Emperor of Russia, the
Emperor of Germany and the Emperor
of Austria to my letter of July 20, 1916
in which 1 rendered the Offices of this
government in negotiations looking to
a fresh consideration of the possibility
and method of relieving Poland. 1t
appears, I greatly regret to say, that
there are still important differences be-
tween the allied and central powers as
to the terms under which rellef sup
plies may be sent to Poland. am dis
appointed that have not yet been sue
cessful in inducing the powers to con-
clude definite settlement.
The Presidents Letter.
The letter sent by the President to
the various nations, made public to-
day, is as follows:
your majesty: In view Of the over
whelming disaster which has befallen
the millions of non-combatant inhabit-
ants of Poland, feel justified by tho
universal and earnest expression of the
sympathies of the American people, re-
gardless of racial origin or political
sentiment, to suggest to your majesty
that the subject of ways and means for
the saving of those people who still
survive be given the further benevo-
lent consideration of your majesty's
government.
while no one can fail to appreciate
the suffering and sacrifices of the peo-
pie primarily engaged in the existing
war, nor the differences in the way OF
alleviating the hardships of those who
are the incidental sufferers of the
war, the death by slow or rapid starva-
ton of millions of innocent people Is
SO awful a fact that such an outcome
should be averted If it is within the
compass of human effort to avert 1t. In
the effort to avert it ! confidently
pledge the cooperation of the people
of the United States II only the way
can be found to make their co-oper2-
tion effective.
suggests Renewed Negotiations.
May therefore be permitted to sug-
gest that an entirely fresh considera-
ton be given to the possibilities and
efforts for relief for Poland. and to
tender the friendly offices of this gov
ernment in negotiating to this end, it
being understood that any plan pro-
posed shall be of such a character as
to be adapted to the accomplishment
of no other result than that of the re-
lief of the distressed inhabitants of
Poland.
In conclusion. 1 can only add that IL
is my sincere hope that your majesty
will see in this note no intention to
interfere with the rights and policies
of your rlajesty's government, but
merely an attempt to express to your
majesty the sympathy and compassion
Tor the starving inhabitants of Poland
felt by the citizens of the United States
"a sympathy and comps ssion which
they do not desire shall be evidenced
merely by our word, but which they
hope they may be permitted to express
by assisting IN the actual work of fur
nishiug food to the starving inhabi-
tants of Poland.
II have the honor to be, your majesty.
Faithfully yours.
{Signed) "WOODROW WILSON,.