The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-05
PRESIDENT URGES
 STEPS FOR RELIEF !. FAMINE CONDITIONS
Sends Recommendations for Legislation Based on Study of Distressing COndi-
 tions in Europe
By Associated Press


 Washington, January 1. President Wilson's first legis- lative recommendation based on his study of conditions i'll Europe looks to the relief of distress of populations "out- side fof Germany" which are threatened with starvation.
 Request for immediate appropriation of peoples of Austria, Turkey, Poland and western Russia who have no recognized governments and are unable to finance international obligations, was transmitted today to Congress by Secretary Glass on cabled instructions from the Presi- dent. MT. Glass went personally to the capitol for a long conference with democratic leaders of the House, and leg- islation to carry out the Presidents recommendations will be introduced by them after conferring with republican leaders
 MUCH FOOD NEEDED
 The Presidents message said that food shipments worth sl,5oo,o0ooo0 must be made from the United States to Europe in the next seven months. An interna- tional organization, directed by Herbert C. Hoover, will supervise the distribution of the supplies. most of which will be paid for by persons able to find the necessary resources.
 Fha Or,rfa tsxY, tna President will take care of the populations in other districts. notably in eastern and southern Europe, which have been ravaged by war and left in chaos.
 In appealing Ito the great sense of charity and good will of the American people toward the suffering" the Presi- dent said:
 While the sum of money is in itself large. 1t is so small compared to the expenditures we have undertaken in the hope of bettering the world that 1t be- comes a mere pttance compared to the results that will be obtained from 1t and the lasting effect that will remain in the United States through an act Of such broad humanity and statesman like influence"
 TEXT OF MESSAGE The text of the Presidents message follows:
 'EsXtehded investigation and considera- ton of the food situation in Europe dis closes that essentially the urban popula- tions in certain areas are not only faced with absolute starvation during the comink winter, but that many of the pop ulatons are unable to find immediate resources with which to purchase their food. These regions have been so suo- Jected to destruction by war. not only of their foodstuffs. but of their financial 1 resources and their power of production and exports, that they are uteerly inca pabte of finding any resources that can be converted into international exchange for food purchases. While the Secretary of the Treasury can accept obligations of certain governments and through i these measures their situations can be cared for temporarily. there are still other areas through eastern and southern | Europe where such arrangements cannot be made. This applies more particularly to the liberated peoples of Austria, Tur- ! key Poland and western Russia. In these countries freedom and government will slowly emerge from chaos and require our every assistance. The total ship
 ments of foodstuffs from the United States to all parts of Europe during the next seven months will be likely to | exceed $l.500, ,O00O00 and from our abun- ! dance we can surely afford to offer sue cor to these countries destitute of re- sources and credits. The minimum sums upon which this work can be carried on 1 for the next six months in the countries mentioned will amount to at least $1O0,- l 000 000 for such services and supplies as we can render and even this sum con l templates the finding of resources by !! so much of the population as can do so. and much assistance can be given by | the allied governments, The high mis- ! sion Of the American people to find l remedy for starvation and absolute an 1 archy, renders it necessary that we | should undertake the most liberal as- ] sistance to these destitute regions. EXTREMELY URGENT ! The situation is one of extreme ur- 1 gency for foodstuffs must be placed l in certain localities within the next 15 | to 90 days if human life and order are | to be preserved l. therefore, request I that you should ask Congress to make <, available to me an immediate appropria- | tion of s1O0.000,o00 for the broad purpose 1 of providing foodstuffs and urgent sup 1 plies for the transportation, distribu- tion and administration thereof to such l populations of Europe, outside Germany. ! as may be determined upon by me from | time to time as necessary. l wish to ap- (Continued on Page Tyvo) M
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