The evening leader., 1918-12-05
HOOyER's MESSAGE.


the American people to set aside Sun
day, December 1, and the week follow
ing, for the consideration of Ameri-
cas- opportunity for renewed service
and sacrifice.
Last summer, when the military sit
uation was acute, we assured the in
ter-allied food conference in London
that whatever the war-food program
of the allies required we were prepar-
ed to meet; that the conference need
not consider whether or not we had
the supplies-we were prepared to
find them; we pledged ourselves, by
the voluntary economy of our people,
to have the reserves in food to supply
all necessities. The ending of the war
does not release US from the pledge.
The same populations must be fed,
and until another season has passed
they cannot feed themselves.
The change in the foreign situation
necessarily alters the details of our
food program, because the freeing of
the seas from the submarine menace
renders accessible the wheat supplies
of India, Australia and the Argentine.
The total food demand upon the Unit
ed States is not diminished, however.
On the contrary, it is increased. In ad-
dition to the supplying of those to
whom we are already pledged, we now
. have the splendid opportunity and OBJ
legation of meeting the needs of those
millions of people in the hitherto occu-
: pied territories who are facing actual
starvation. The people of Belgium,
northern France, Serbia, Rumania,
, Montenegro, Poland, Russia and Ar
menia relys upon America for immedi-
ate aid. We must also participate in
the preservation of the newly liberat-
ed nations in Austria, nor can we ig-
more the effect on the future world de-
velopments of a famine condition
: among those other people whom we
have recently released from our enc
UllES. AL IIlCSt iAlSeNli
/ that upwards of 200 million people,
t in addition to those we are already
pledged to serve, are now looking to
. us in their misery and famine Our
appeal today is therefore larger than
= the former appeal to the "war con-
: science" of our people. The new ap-
= - G,x,orll ~ which
e must be the guiding inspiration of our
+ future program.
I The president of the United States
:, has asked me to take charge for this
government of this work; to perfect
# and enlarge the arrangements fol
: food stuffs to the populations of Bel
gium and France now being released
and to organize and determine the
need of provision to the liberated peo
pies of Southern Europe, to prevent
" such debacle as has taken place II
Q Russia.
r cess of such an enlarged appeal VII
e be the vivid consciousness in every
d individual in each community of obi.
cation and opportunity. 1t is that
common recognition of obligation
that we now wish to create. Such ar
intelligent world conscience" in the
American people must be the main de-
lpendence of the stricken countries of
i the world until normal conditions are
K once more restored.
t America by her participation in the
war has accomplished her objectives
of self-defense and of vindicating the
efficiency of government in which
the people and the people only, are
sovereign. She has established the
foundations of government by the
people throughout the enemy coun-
tries, and this is the real bulwark of
world peace. We have yet to build
on these foundations. No government
nor nation can stand if it's people are
starving. We must do our part if the
world be not consumed in a flame of
anarchy.
The American people, in this most
critical period of our history, have
the opportunity to demonstrate not
only their ability to assist in estab-
fishing peace on earth, but also their
conservation, by self-denial, to the
cause of scffering humanity.
HERRERT HOOVER