Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-17
ASKS HALF BILLION
AS j. S. LOAN FOR
EUROPEAN RELIEF
H. P. Dawson Declares
America Must Save Starv-
ing to Save Itself.

DIES MONIES. Iowa, May 17.-Henry
=. Dawson of j. p. Morgan & Co.,
chairman of the board of governors
Of the League of Red Cross Societies,
told the General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church here to-
day that "one of the most terrible
tragedies in the history of the human
race is being enacted within the
broad belt of territory lying between
the Baltic and the Black and Adriatic
seas" In this area are the new Bal
tic states. Poland Czechoslovakia,
Ikrain, Austria. Hungary. Rumania.
Montenegro. Albania and Serbia
Mr.. Dawson asked that Congress
Immediately appropriate not exceed
ing S50O. 100000 for the use of the
countries of central and eastern
Europe. He requested that Congress
call upon the President to appoint
non political commission of three
Americans. distinguished for their
character and executive ability which
should proceed at once to survey the
conditions in these countries and to
allocate materials to them without
interference and by exercise of its
own prerogative. Mr.. Dawson sug-
gested for members of the commits
sion men of the type of Gen. Per-
shing. Herbert Hoover and former
Secretary Franklin X. Lane He said
he had no doubt that the obligation
would be repaid and suggested it
should run for fifteen years
Would Ask Others to Help.
He urged also that the United
States invite otner governments in a
position to assist and participate in
the undertaking. and declared Il am
conndent that our action would be
1n
Britain. Holland, of the Scandinavian
countries. Spain. and Japan, and that
France and Belgium and Italy, not
withstanding their losses. would help
to the best of their ability"
the sum suggested by Mr.. Dawson
for appropriation by Congress exceeds
the total of all the Red Cross has ex-
pended in the war and since. which is
placed by him at approximately $780,
100000. Compared with the $500, ,O0O,-
600 asked for by Mr.. Dawson. the Bel
gian relief fund would be bur drop
in the bucket.
Mr.. Dawson said he was custodian
OF authoritative reports. recording
appalling conditions among millions
OF people living in eastern Europe.
i believe. he said, that the apathy
and indifference which prevail today
are due alone to the fact that Ameri-
can people have not grasped the
dreadful facts
Medicines and Physicians Needed
The reports which come to us make
II clear that in these war-raviShed
lands civilization has broken down
Men. women and children are dying
by thousands and over vast once civ
lllzed areas there are to be found
neither medical appliances nor medi-
cal skill sufficient to cope with the
devastating plaques"
: summarizing these reports Mr.. Da-
vlson said that one of the worst ty-
phus epidemics in the worlds history
now existed among the Poles. who
were threatened with wholesale star
vatlon this summer: that typhus. in
nuenZa. smallpox or tuberculosis ex-
listed in Czechoslovakia Serbia. Ru-
mania and the Ukraine. and that
there was lack of medicine. soap and
PHYSICIANS to combat these diseases
He pointed to the menace of typhus
'at our threshold" and asked how
long before it might creep to our
own shores
He contrasted this with the condi-
tion in the United States where. he
said, plenty abounded. and asked if
the conditions were reversed whether
Americans would not eXclaim against
the heartiessness of Europe
we can afford to die" he said. but
pharisaical nation is a fate we must
not incur"
How to Furnish Supplies.
There are only three WAYS by
which these stricken lands can Sc
cure supplies from the outside
world said Mr.. Dawson "One is by
payment. one by credit. and the third
Is by exchange of commodities. If
these peoples tried to buy materials
and supplies in America at the pres
ent market value of their currencies,
Austria would have to pay forty
times the original cost Germany
thirteen times. Greece just double. |
Czechoslovakia fourteen times, and
Poland fifty times. These figures are
official and are true index of the |
economic plight of these countries
1T is clear. therefore. that they
cannot give us gold for the things
they must have, nor have they either
products or securities to offer in re- j
turn for credit. If only they could |
obtain raw material which these idle |
millions of theirs could convert into |
products they would |