Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-30
TNENY ALIENS HERE
ASSURED OF RELIEF
;,,edish and Swiss Legations
Will Assume Care of
INDECENT
s APPROVES PROJECT
u.rv Friendly to America Now
Are in Distress Because
of War
Washington, April so.

legations of Switzerland and
.aer representing. respectively,
man and Austro-liungarian in
80 have undertaken to direct re-
\, york among INDECENT enemy aliens
..,ouehout the United states. The
hos been approved by the United
80 Relief will be extended to
=, families of interned aliens direct
~. tbc legation funds, while to aid
aiding enemy aliens who have
.,rsred 'on account of their status
additional committee Of Americans
n be organized to cooperate with
I, LEGATIONS and their consular Off
cecretary Lansing announced the
.,tangement i'm this statement:
IN tbe interests of the safety and
aforo of this country it has been
rnrd necessary from time to time
Y rostrict the movements and fields Of
.,nlovment of enemy aliens. In some
~ses these restrictions have worked
ssrdships on enemy aliens who in all
.esnecfs have shown themselves
standby IN the United States, but who,
arino 10 the accident of birth and war
.ondtions, have been unable to change
heir status as such and have of ne
eessity become objects of charity.
likewise the families of those enemy
.Iens whom the Government deems it
,dvisable to intern are often deprived
4 their means of livelihood and they
,lso become dependent on the charity
Of others
legations to Supervise Relief
DIn order to meet this condition the
egation of Switzerland and the lega.
tIon of Sweden. in charge. respectively,
Of German and A%stro-Hungarian in
terests in the United States, have, with
me approval and cooperation of this
Goyernment, undertaken to systema-
tze and supervise all the relief that
nav be given to needy aliens wherever
and however situated throughout the
country. In the case of the interned
Enemy aliens and their families the
tgations have agreed to supply all the
relief from their own funds, limiting
such relief to what is found after care
lul investigation to be the essential
minimum
"The case Of the law-abiding enemy
siens has presented more complex
roblem. This it is proposed to meet by
ne formation of a national committee
mmposed Of American citizens, which,
N cooperation with the legations Of
stitzerland and Sweden and the con-
sus under their jurisdiction, will invosti.
ate all cases of distress among this
class and will control the collection and
dstribution Of all funds that may be
subscribcd for the purpose of their re-
tef It will. of course. have local conf
nlttces working under it wherever the
need Of such committees is felt and will
proper authorities.
II feel confident that the intelligent
and controlled relief Of cne7Ny aliens in
distress in accordance with the pro-
posed methods is u humanitarian meas
ure in accord with the spirit in which
We have undertaken to carry on this
war"
Treatment Not obligatory
There is no obligation in existing
ireaties f1r such treatment Of enemy
Aliens as is proposed. In Germany and
Austria many such have been detained
and most of them are largely dependent
for support upon the food supplies sent
IN through the Red Cross or other or
ganizations.
In the case Of enemy aliens who are
now interned the United states is liable
FOR the cost Of their maintenance, as IN
fhp r l., L.