Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-14
FOOD Chief.
PLEADS FOR
HUNGRY TOTS
OF EUR 0PE.
Hoover Says $500, 900 Chill
dren Face Starvation
Tells Of Grave Dangers
Europe Is FaCing.
BY FORBES FAIRBURN.
Universal Service Staff Correspondent.

~ universal service StAIf COfteepOndeht.
tNots-This Is a continuation of an in
tervtew with Herbert c. Hoover, in which
he announced he was coming home Il
America. that he had no intention Of re
turning to Europe. never wished to speak
OF food again. and Is not planning to enter
politics The interview was delayed In
transmission. -Editor)
London, Sept. ia grave warn.
ing to the European governments
especially the English-speaking peo-
pie, with regard to the pitiful con-
dition Of children in Europe, who
will starve unless they are aided
was sounded by Herbert Hoover on
the eve of his return to America.
Must Save Babies.
"There are 3,5OOO00 babies in
Europe who have to be saved" said
Mr.. Hoover. III is largely up to
the charitable public of the Anglo
Saxon countries to do it.
II commend to the charity of all
English-speaking people the starv-
ing young children who will die If
they are not provided with milk,
which will have to be done by pri-
vate charity. Hitherto the main
source of support of this legion of
babies has been grants from Amer
lea to the American relief work.
This is now exhausted.
Harvest Relieves Condition.
Luckily we have at present the
harvest time drawing near, so that
n majority of the populations Of
eastern Europe, where conditions
are the worst, will be able to live
on themselves for time. But there
is = famine of everything but cereals
and bread generally, which means
that milk is practically unobtain-
able. This must be supplied.
ut is no longer a question of sup-
plying Europe with food, but of
supplying her with credits to obtain
food, and credits depend upon pro-
ductivity. -
Europe will need 30O0,000,000
to carry on until the next harvest
in September, 1920, provided the
production of the various nations is
accelerated toward normal, but it
will take a year for Europe to re-
gain her normal productive capacity.
"The western hemisphere will be
able to take care of deficiencies in
Europe for only a short time. Cred
it's also can be modified only for
short time, and will break down the
moment return Of commodities be-
comes improbable.
Solution Lies in Production.
"lf credits are obtained for more
than temporary purposes. the result
would be economic slavery of En-
rope to the western hemisphere, and
the ultimate result would be war.
A permanent solution lies in imme-
date increased productivity.
Europe as whole is in state
of demoralized productivity. Pro-
duction of necessities never has
been at such a low ebb, and unless
il is increased the result will be
political, moral and economic chaos,
finally resulting in unprecedented
loss of life.
"There is disheartening out
break OF extravaganza, which must
be curtailed. Settled peace should
bring back something approaching
normal production. From the Black
sea to the Baltic boundaries, the
nations are fighting bolshevism.
Silesia and Teschen are open sores.
aud Hungary is in chaos. Peace is
needed.
"America shipped l7.500.000 tons
of food to Europe last year, COM
pared with an average of 6,5OO,0O0
Ions in the pre-war years.