Evening star., 1918-08-08
AMERICAN BREAD
ASKED FOR F|NNS
Scandinavian Nations Write
in Appeal for Starving Peo-
pie of New Nation.
BRITISH AID ALSO URGED
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright. 1918. by New York Evening Post
Company
Norway. Sweden and Denmark for
mally appealed to the United States
today to help famine-swept Finland.
The ministers representing the
three Scandinavian governments, act
ing upon instructions. presented to
Acting Secretary Polk of the Depart
ment of State memorandum begging
that food be sent to the starving
masses and promising to guarantee
in need. A similar petition. is being
presented simultaneously to the gov
ernment of Great Britain.
Actual Starvation Faced.
The situation as outlined by the
epvoys would seem to indicate that
Finland is another Be1gium-the con-
flict between the Russian bolsheviki
and the Finnish troops having led to
atrocious assaults on civilians and
widespread devastation. Added to this
is failure Of the crops and political
turbulence. SO that unless a consid-
cradle importation of bread-cereals
can be obtained actual starvation will
result.
Prompted by a sense of solidarity
based upon historical traditions, the
governments of Sweden. Denmark and
Norway considered the plight of their
Finnish neighbors at a meeting of the
premiers and ministers Of foreign af-
fairs Of the three Scandinavian coun-
tries held at Copenhagen recently.
resources. but were unable to formu-
late measures OF relief because of
their own wants.
Firms Propose Appeal.
The Finnish government itself final
ly proposed that a common appeal he
addressed to Great Britain and the
United States with the idea of getting
an import of enough breadstuffs to
prevent starvation. According to re-
cent information the quantity imme-
diately needed is 5000 tons of grain.
Mr.. Polk listened with interest to
the arguments of the three ENJOYS,
but took occasion to point out that
the Finnish government had not been
particularly friendly or courteous to
Americans of late. and that Prof.
Henry E: Emery. formerly Of the
mitted> to fall into the hands of the
Germans while on Finnish territory
and has been compelled to suffer pri-
walton in a German prison camp.
Furthermore, the acting Secretary
to Finland would not relieve Germany
Of an obligation. The Finnish gov
ernment has been in cahoots with the
Berlin government. There was even
a report recently that Finland in
tended to declare war upon the
entente.
Firms Possibly Helpless.
To the outcry that Finland is pro-
German is the answer made, however.
that the Firms, not being able to get
helm elsewhere in their struggle for
independence, have been compelled to
accept German aid.
chat NV giving food to Finland q
friandlier policy might be adopted by
the FinnA which may make possible
important advantages to the entente
later on. These are prospects which
undoubtedly will be canvassed before
a decision IL rendered.
Will want to satisfy itself that any
fnnd given Finland does not fall into
the hands Of the Germans. On this
noint the three ministers assured Mr..
Polk today that It'd Finnish govern-
ment has declared itself willing to ac-
cent the administrative control by
Norway, Denmark and Sweden OF any
food supply sent into Finland, much
as the Hoover commission fed Bel.
rium while the United States wzs .
neutrah The Finnish authorities
state moreover that guarantee to
respect such control can and Will be
obtained from Germany.
The acting secretary OF state took
the proposal under consideration.
Probably after consultation with Great
Britain he will return a definite an.
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