Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-04-25
RUSSIANS MUST
CEASE WARFARE
Reply of Big Four to Suggestions
of Doctor" NanSen.
PRIMARY CONDITION NAMED
Norwegian Representative Presents
ldentic Letter to President Wilson
and Premiers Clemenceau,
Lloyd George and Orlando
Text of Reply.


f'big four" relative to the suggestion OF
DIR. Fridtjof hansen, that neutral ma
tons be permitted to supervise the
feeding Of the starving people of Rus
STA was made public here. The pri-
mary condition of the cooperation of
the allied powers is that Russia return
to basis of peace.
The following letter has been adj
dressed by DR.. Fridtjof Nansen, Nor
wegian representative, to President
Wilson and Premiers Clemenceau,
Lloyd George and Orlando.
"The present food situation in Rus
STA, where hundreds of thousands of
people are dying monthly from sheer
starvation and disease, is one of the
problems now uppermost in all mems
! minds.
GAS 1t appears that no solution of
this food condition question has so far
been reached in any delegation, l
would like to make a suggestion from
q neutral point of view for the bene-
fit Of this gigantic misery, on purely
humanitarian grounds.
Suggests Humanitarian Committee.
'It would appear to me possible to
organize purely humanitarian COM
mittee for the provisioning of Russia,
the foOdstuffs and medical supplies to
he paid for, perhaps, to some extent,
by Russian ITSELF the justice of diStri-
button to be guaranteed by commit
tee; the personnel of the commission
to be comprised of Norwegian, Swed-
lish, and possibly Dutch, Danish and
Swiss nationals.
1T does not appear that the exist
ing authorities in Russia would refuse
the intervention of such committee
OF wholly non-pOlitical aspect, devoted
solely to the humanitarian purpose of
saving life.
IF thus organized upon the lines of
the Belgium relief commission, it
would raise no question Of political
recognition or of negotiations between
the allies with the existing authorities
in Russia
81 recognize keenly the large politi-
cal issues involved, and I would be
glad to know under what conditions
the peace conference would approve
such an enterprise and whether such
a committee could look for real sup
port in finance. shipping, food and
medical supplies"
The following reply was sent by
President Wilson and the premiers:
1.-THE misery and suffering in Rus
STA, described in your letter Of April
3, appeals to the sympathies Of all
peoples. 1t is shocking to humanity
that millions of men and women and
children lack the food and nourish-
ment which make life endurable.
1.-THE governments and peoples which
we represent would be glad to COOP
crate, without thought of political, mil
itary or financial advantage, in any
proposal which would relieve this stu
alton in Russia.
ut seems to us that such a commit
tee as you propose would offer prac-
teal means of acquiring the beneficent
results you have in view and could not,
either in its conception or its opera
ton, be considered as having any 9TH
er aim than the humanitarian purpose
of saving life.
"There are great difficulties to be
overcome, political difficulties respect
ing the existing situation in Russia
and difficulties of supply and trans
port but if the existing local govern
ments of Russia are as willing as the
governments and people whom we rep
resent, to see succor and relief given
to the stricken people of Russia, no
political obstacle will remain.
There will remain, however, the
difficulties of supply, finance and
transport which we have mentioned,
and also the problem of distribution
in Russia itself.
Transport Is Problem.
"The problems of transport in Rus
STA and of distribution can be solved
only by the people of Russia them
selves.
1.-THE people in each locality should
be given. as under the regime of the
Belgian relief commission, the fullest
opportunity to advise your commits
sion upon the methods and the person
mel by which their community is TO be
relieved.
THAT such a course would involve
the cessation of all hostilities within
definite lines in the territory of Russia
is obvious. And the cessation of hos
tilities would necessarily involve n
complete suspension of the transfer of
troops and military material of all
sorts to and within Russians territory.
Indeed, relief to Russia which did
not mean a return to a state of peace
would be futile and would be impos-
sible to consider.
Under such conditions as we have
outlined. we are certain that your
plan could be successfully carried into
effect and we should be prepared TO
give it our full support.
(Signed)
"v. z. ORLANDO,
I'D. lloyd GEORGE.
WOODROW WILSON,
&c. CLEMENCEAU."