The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-04
UNABLE TO DELIVER

comes either a matter of practical char
 ity or long time credits from the United States
 UNABLE TO DELIVER At the present moment we are in the extremely difficult position of having 1 foodstufs in the neighborhood of certain
 peoples who rely on America but we are unable to deliver this feed except such
 as We can allow from the g, ,o00, 900 placed
 at our disposal from present private funds and such other foods as the allies can, advance from their own stocks There is broad economic problem
 involved in European feeding during the next six or seven months which in
 cludes some of the allied governments
 as well as the liberated territories It is Impossible to conceive. considering the destruction they have undergone, that they can again return to the production of commodities which they can exchange for our foodstuffs in time to prevent
 starvation. Nor have they gold or Ameri- can securities left They must have credit.
 Most of these as are able and willing to give some form of obligation, of fu- ture payment and it is hardly up to us to stand by and say because they will not produce gold American railway securities, or foreign exchange, of which
 
 low them to starve when we have a suf. hcient surplus of food to prevent the loss Of life. Our merchants simply cannot furnish credit nor give away food in | these volumes. It is a government func- ton.
 GREAT POLITICAL IMPORTANCE Tt is also of the greatest possible political importance for if we are to prevent anarchy, and if we are to hope that the world will return to some form of orderly government, if we are to se- cure establishment of governments with which we can make peace, we must somehow provide food supply. There fore our financial problem in handling relief may be resolved into three cate gories:
 1 We can no doubt sell to Germany and to some of the allies and neutrals who are able to and must pay in equita- ble and receivable securities in some form for the food that they require as commercial transaction.
 "2. The liberated areas and some of the allied countries to which the United States can temporarily extend loans un- der it's present legislation. "3. Peoples who must have assistance in large way from the American people in a manner which cannot be provided for under any of the precent available funds. 'The allied governments have expressed willingness to join in the provision of foodstufs and financial help for those
 areas but their situation today, as every day, depends to large degree upon the finances and supplies from the United States. We anticipate fewer difficulties with overseas transportation than with other items in hand
 MUST HAVE SHIPS "It appears to the allies and ourselves only just that inasmuch large part of the difficulties of the liberated terri tories are due to the ruthless action of German arms the Germans should be called upon to provide ships to transport food supplies to those eras and it will certainly be made condition of the al lowance of any food supplies to Germany that their ships shall be ultimately turned over to carry food for all liberated ter ritories.
 The outstanding fact in the physical,
 moral and political salvation of the lib erated peoples is credit. The people of the United States have offered the lives of millions of their best manhood in the cause of human salvage, which is l the kernel of democracy. But they knew historically how to fight and die for prin- ciple. They have now to learn thep rac- tcal value of this new factor of credits. It is not a mysterious thing but it does require calm and shrewd financial lead CTS here.
 This we have inside and outside Of Congress, If it's interest is awakened in | time the United States can finish it's job splendidly and can banish the spectre of bolshevism, which today attempts to lure 1 the distressed peoples in such hopeless ! misery and anarchy. Bolshevism spreads 1 like disease. It must run its course of destruction and is no respecter for na tional borders