New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-04

stream Of 10000 tons a month is being
maintained into Belgium and Northern
France.
I'm the meantime we have, in CO.
operation with the Allies, ssent commits
slons IN to these various countries to
study transportation and to endeavor
to set up financial arrangements. The
transportation problem is one of ex-
tremca difficulty because of the general
decentralization of railways ard rolling
stock all over this area.
Distributed by Motor Trucks
In numerous places we have had
to make provision for distribution with
motor trucks, as in the case of Bel
GUM and Northern France.
zone of the most difficult problems
involved in the whole matter is that
OF finance. Our farmers and manu-
facturers must be paid for their food
supplies. Those liberated regions
which have been engaged in war
against Germany, such as Belgium, Ser
bla and Rumana, nave been given from
Nii'iS W Vino iCetliS ny CUS united states
government with which to purchase
food, and as a military measure it is
vitality necessary that these popula-
tons should be continuously fed in
order to save the necessity OF further
military action by the United States
These loans are being continued in
some special instances and in fact,
amount to selling our food on credit
Look With Hope to l.. $.
ION the other hand. large areas
exist, such as liberated Poland and
some of the former states where our
governments are unable under pres
emit legislation to make any loans.
Furthermore, in some of these areas the
governments have so d1sintegrated that
It Is difficult to set up any financial
circle for lack of government These
people are all looking with hope to
the United States for salvation from
starvation.
az the present moment we are in
tha extremely difficult position of hav-
ing foodstuffs in the neighborhood of
certain people who rely on America,
but we are unable to deliver this food.
except such as we can allow from the
100000 placed at our disposal from
present private funds and such other
food as the Allies can advance from
INelI own STOCKS,
"Therc is a broad economic problem
involved in European feeding during
the next six or seven months, which
Includes some of the Allied govern
ments as we'll as the liberated terri
tories. 1t is impossible to conceive,
considering the destruction they have
undergone, that they can again return
to the production CT commodities which
they can exchange for our foodstuffs in
time TO prevent starvation. Nor have
they gold or American securities left.
They must have credit
VIII Not Let Them Starve
"Most Of these who are able are will
ing to give some form of obligation Of
future payment, and it is hardly I'D to
US to stand by and say because they
Will not produce gold or American rail
way securities. or foreign exchange, of
which they have none, that we are 60
ing to allow them to starve when we
have sufficient surplus of food to
prevent the loss of life. Our mer-
chants simply cannot furnish credit
nor give away food in these volumes.
1t IS a government function
ut is also OF the greatest possible
political Importance, for if we are to
prevent anarchy, and if we are to hope
that the world viii return to some form
or orderly government. if we are to So
cure establishment of governments
with which we can make peace. we must
somehow provide a food sunnlv There
fore. our financial problem in handling
relief may be resolved into three cate
gories.
Three Financial Features
"First. we can, no doubt, sell to Ger
many and to some Of the Allies and
nertrals who are able to and must paw
IN equitable and receivable securities
IN some form for the food that thew
require as a commercial transaction.
Second, the liberated areas and
some of the Allied countries to which
the United States can temporarily ex-
tend loans under its present lcgisla-
ton
"1'hird, peoples who must have as
slstance IN large way from the
american people IN manner which
cannot be provided for under any Of
the present available funds.
"The Allied governments have OK
pressed Willingness to join in the pro
VISION of foodstutfs and financial help
for these areas, but their situation to-
day, as every day, depends to a large
degree upon the finance and supplies
from the United States. We anticjpate
fewer difficulties with overseas trans
portatlon than with other items in
! hand
Would Use German Ships
ut appears to the Allies and our
selves only just that, inasmuch as
large part of the difficulties of the
liberated territories are due to the
ruthless action of German arms, the
Germans should be called upon to pro
vide ships to transport food supplies
to these areas, and it Will certainly be
made condition of the allowance Of
any food supplies to Germany that
their ships shall be ultimately turned
ated territories
1.-THE outstanding fact in the phys-