Arizona republican., 1919-04-18
Dr. Nansen Writes

Correspondence between Dr. Nansen. head of the commission appointed to feed Russia, and President Wilson and Premier Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Orlando, on the food situation in Russia, was made public today. Dr. Nansen's letter said:
 "The present food situation in Rus sia, where hundreds of thousands of 1 people are dying monthly from sheer starvation and disease, is one of the l problems now uppermost in all mems minds. As it appears that no solution | of this food question has so far been reached in any delegation, would like ] to make suggestion, from a neutral point of view, for the benefit of this gi- l gantic misery. on purely humanitarian grounds.
 Tt would appear to me possible to organize a purely humanitarian com mittee for the provisioning of Russia, the foodstuffs and medical supplies to be paid for, perhaps to some consider able extent, by Russia itself, the justice of distribution to be guaranteed by Il | committee. The general makeup of the commission would Se comprised of ! Norwegian, Swedish and possibly Dutch. Danish and Swiss nationalities
 ''It does not appear that the existing authorities in Russia would refuse the intervention of such 8 committee of q wholly npolitical order, devoted solely to the humanitarian service of saving life. If thus organized upon the lines of the Belgian relief committee it would raise no question or political questions of recognition between the allies and the existing authorities in ;. Russia.
 q recognize keenly the large politi cal issues involved and I would be glat to know under what conditions sucf an enterprise would, be approved ant | whether such a committee could lool for real support in finance and ship ping and food and medical supple. from our governments"
 Big Four Answers
 The following reply was sent b! President Wilson and the premier' today.
 "The misery and suffering in Rus sia described in your letter of Apri third appeals to the sympathies of al peoples. It is shocking to humanit. that millions of men and women ant children lack the food and nourishmen which makes life endurable.
 The governments, the peoples whom we represent would be glad to co operate without thought of political military or financial addition, in an, proposal which would relieve this sit nation in Russia. It seems to us tha such committee as you propose woul' offer a practical means of acquirip; the beneficient results you have il view and would not, either in it's con ception or it's operation, be considere' as having any other aim than tn humanitarian purpose of saving life.
 There are great difficulties to b overcome, political difficulties give to the existing situation in Russia an difficulties of supply and of transport but if the existing local government of Russia are as willing as the gov ernments and peoples whom we rep resent to see succor and relief give to the stricken people of Russia n political obstacle will remain.
 "There will remain however, the diff ficulties of supply. finance and trans port, which we have mentioned, and al so the problem of distribution in Rus sia itself. The problem of supply " can ourselves hope to solve in connec , ton with the advance and co-operatio of such committee as you propos The problem of finance would seem 3 us to fall upon the Russian authoritie The problem of transport of supplie . 10 Russia. we can hope to meet wit
 Continued on Page Two)