The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-22
DELEGATES STUDY
QUESTIONS OF
ECONOMIC AID.
Metal and Lubricants Held as
Important as Food for
European Countries.
(By oc:nted Press,


PARIS. Jan. 22.--Owing to pressure
OF more urgent problems before dele
gates to the peace conference, various
economic delegations are studying.
each for itself, the blockade and kim
dred problems. 1t is probable they
will inaugurate joint discussions dur
ing the coming week. The American
viewpoint contemplates a certain re-
taxation CT the earlier "watertight"
blockade. which would allow the entry
of foodstuffs. lubricants and other ma
terials into enemy countries. This. 1t
Is held. would permit the restoration
OF distributing systems, flour mills and
other agencies involved In the pre-.
paration of food supplies. The block
ade. however. would otherwise be as
rigidly enforced as ever because of its
value as q weapon to force the army
to accept the peace terms that will
be presented.
The declaration OF the blockade, as
regards foodstuffs is already effective
In portions OF the former Hapsburg
domain. Food is being sent into vi
emma as well as liberated regions"
and will be supplied to Germany un.
der the terms of the armistice ex-
tension agreement signed at Treves
last Friday
American experts are said to believe
that Babbitt metal for bearings, lu-
bricants. repair parts for locomotives
and flour mills and other articles, fall
virtually In the same category as food.
stuffs; since It is obvious that enemy
countries have no adequate facilities
for milling -four and distributing food
after it is imported.
Some American economic experts
advocate for enemy countries. at least
Austria Hungary. and possibly Ger
many. further relaxa ton OF the
blockade to permit the importation
OF limited quantities of raw materials.
These imports. however. would not be
enough to permit the central powers
to resume international commercial
competition while the allied countries
are still laboring under the handicap
OF the devastation OF their chief in
dustrial regions. the spoliation Of in
dustrial plants. the transformation of
the great bulk of their remaining fac
tories into war plants and the bsence
Of industrial laborers who are still
under arms.
Textiles Are Needed.
The manufacture OF textiles, for ex-
ample. is urgently required to meet
the needs OF enemy populations and
the production OF other materials is
held to be absolutely indispensable.
This would. 1t is said, facilitate relief
measures and alleviate conditions of
unemployment upon which bolshevism
thrives. particularly in Hungary.
While proper safeguards will be
needed to bar any possibility Of export
ing goods at the enormous prices now
paid for clothing and articles OF house.
hold consumption, it is felt that the
pressure OF public opinion in enemy
countries will be sufficient to keep
goods at home for many months.
The problem Of trade restrictions
on neutrals, as part of the enemy
blockade is also under consideration.
There Is disposition in American
quarters to permit expectation OF most
raw materials used in industries In
such quantities as are required to
meet the demands Of home consump-
ton. This demand, will, it is said,
largely prevent serious exports from
neutral to adjacent enemy countries.
This problem, however. is cimpli-
Gated by the question OF possible COM
petition between neutrals and the
handicapped entente belligerents be-
fore the latter are completely restored
to their ante-bellum efficiency.
The Syrian-Armenian Relief Cam.
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