New-York tribune., 1919-02-03
II. s. Food Aid
RanisEes Fear.
Asserts Hoover
Millions in Europe Cheered
bv the $lOO,OOO,OOO
Relief Measure, He Says
Many Tons on the Way
Starving Look to America
for Help as Distribution
of Supplies Is Begun

of Supplies Is Begun
PARIS. Feb. 2.-The passage by the
American Congress of the bill appro-
,r;sting s100,O00,OO0 for relief in
rurope will lift load Of fear from
tbe hearts of millions of people in
Europe" declared Herbert c. Hoover,
sirector general of relief, in a state
usnt issued this evening. Mr.. Hoover
outIined the use to which the money is
10 be nut and the means already taken
FOR the relief of various peoples.
at is little realized in the United
States" the statement adds, chow fully
and completely the daily wireless car
ried the progress of this measure to
those peoples now liberated from the
German yoke. Immediately after the
hill was passed the news appeared in
the headlines of newspapers in Bucha
rest. Sofia and Helsingfors, and it was
known in Warsaw, Lodz, Prague and
Fiume where thousands of persons have
heen looking anxiously toward the
United States for leadership in the So
luton of their most imminent danger. :
Hopes Directed to U. S.
1T must be remembered that the
Presidents declaration of the prime
purposes OF the American people in re-
establishing freedom and self-govern-
ment have moved these peoples to di
rect ali their hopes toward the United
States, and to-day they will see one
more step toward this end.
There is no question as to the sac
rifce it will call for from the Ameri-
can people to provide this relief ap-
preparation, as it comes now in period
when we have so many difficulties and
problems of our own people to solve in
the rehabilitation of our normal ma
tional life
"The usual tangible relief to the
newly liberated peoples will not be de-
layed even by the period required to
ship foodstutfs from the United States
War, Navy and Treasury departments
and the United States food administra-
ton already have 100 ships in European
ports or headed toward Europe, in addi-
ton to our reestablished relief of Bel
GUM and Northern France, Rumania
and Czecho- Slovakia under the old war
legislation. The new appropriation by
Congress enables us to extend this
work by giving credits to those coun-
tries for which there was no such legs-
lation.
Shipments Already Made
I'VE have at sea or are discharging
in the port CT Trieste 10000 tons of
food for the Jugo- Slavs, Serbians and
Czecho-Slovaks. We have 10000 tons
OF food either arrived at or in prog
ress to the Black Sea for Rumania.
The Armenian Relief Committee has
1000 tons on the way to Armenia and
Syria as a gift, and we are placing a
ID,0O0 tons in Constantinople as
reserve for them. We have 10000
tons IN Poland, on the way or being
transshlpped from Rotterdam, for the
Poles, and 10000 tons in Rotterdam
awaiting reshipment to the Firms and
other liberated populations in Rus
sia The Polish Relief Committee is
sending a gift Of 1000 tons to the
Poles.
Since the armistice the British au-
tnorlties have distributed about 1O,-
600 tons Of food to the Serbians; the
Italian authorities some 10000 tons
to the Austrians. and the British au-
tnoritles have in progress some 10000
or $4,000 tons of food to the Ru-
.maaians- We have since the armis-
ice delivered into Rotterdam 100000
tons Of food for the Belgians and the
liberated French with the support of
cur treasury and Belgium and France.
Aid From Army and Navy
Had this new appropriation been
refused We should have sold out these
parcels Of food to those who could
pay real money and would have been
Starve In this same confidence, that
We would be supported by Congress,
re have secured detail of more
than 25O men from the American army
and the American navy for the work
Of the Food Administration. These
men are now actively establishing the
administrations necessary to secure
proper distribution in all of these ter
ritorieg. Our Offices have been opened
N virtually every capital among the
distressed peoples, and with the pas
sage Of this act of Congress we are
able to do business.
~The Allied Supreme Council Of
Supply and Relief has been organ
led and equipped with staff and Of
hcials representing the Allied and
associated powers in order that we
may secure coordination and unity of
effort from all the governments who
Fave stood together 10 secure the
freedom Of these peoples and who
aow stand together to see that their
oistreSs ~ amcliorated."