The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-06-11

ure lHe IdNgeT ana lake preCautlOD
against such an INVASION.
This is enc menace a our thu eshold.
The other, more threatening. more ter
rible, is the menace Of the worlds III
will. We can afford to die. but to be
despised forever as a greedy and phari-
saical nation is a fate that We must
not incur.
THE French government has many
serious problems I. solve. but the
French peasantry is working and the
French artisan, while still sadly in
need Of raw materials. has not lost his
habit Of industry and thrift
Italy. despite her great shortage
of raw material, is looking forward
and not backward. Italy can be relied
upon to do her part.
England is meeting the problems
of reconstruction just as those who
knew her past should have expected
her to meet them.
Plan to Aid Central Europe.
1T is net for me perhaps to give
In detail a formula fer solution OF the
worlds ills, but as have been asked
many times, What would you do |
am glad to give my own answer.
Accordingly, would ask;
First. That congress Immediately
pass a bill appropriating sum not
to exceed 100000 900 for the use OF
central and eastern Europe,
Second. That congress call upon
the president to appoint nonpoitical
commission of three Americans, dis
tinguished for their character and ex-
ecutive ability and commanding the
respect OF the American people. Such
a commission should include men of
the type of General Pershing, Mr.
Hoover, or ex Secretary Lane. |
would invest that commission with
complete power
Third. would have the commits
sion instructed to proceed at once, &C
companed by proper personnel, TO
survey conditions in central and east
ern Europe and then act for the restor-
alton of those countries under such
conditions and upon such terms as
the commission itself may decide to
be practicable and effective. Among
the conditions should be provided that
there should be no local interference
with the free and untrammeled exercise
by the commission Of its own prerOga-
tive Of allocating materials. Govern
mental politics should be eliminated:
unreasonable and prejudical barriers
between the various countries should
be removed, and such substantial guar
antees as msy be available should be
eXacted in order that the conditions
imposed should be fulfilled
Fourth. AS to financial terms. I
should make them liberal. would
charge no interest for the first three
years; for the next three years six
per cent, with provision that such in
terest might be funded if the economic
conditions of the country were not APP
preaching normal. or if its exchange
conditions were so adverse as to make
payment unduly burdensome. should
make the maturity of the obligation
Is years from its date and | should
have no doubt as to its final payment
Fifth. Immediately the plan was
adopted | would have our government
invite other governments in a posi-
ton to assist, to participate in the
undertaking
Sixth. To set forth completely my
opinion, | should add that in the final
instructions the American people
through their government. should say
to the commission
We want you TO go and do this
job in such a manner as, after study,
you think 1t should be done This
is no ordinary undertaking. The
American people trust you to see that
it is done right
Il would also say to the commits
sion:
Use as much OF this money as is
needed Personally | am confident
that with the assistance and co-opera-
ton which would come from other
parts Of the world the sum of $500
100000 from the United States would
be more than enough to start these
countries On their way to self support
and the restoration OF normal condi-
tions.
THE whole plan. of course, involves
many practical considerations. the
most serious Of which is that of obtain
ing the money, whether by issuing ad-
ditional Liberty Bonds, an increase in
the floating debt or by taxation. But
! think we could properly say to the
treasury department:
We know how serious your finan-
cial problems are; We know the diff
ficulties which are Immediately CON
fronting you; We know the importance
OF deflation, and we know that the
government must economic and that
individuals must economic, but we
also know that the american govern
ment advanced $4,000, 900 900 to its
allies to attain vic Iry and peace Ger
tainly il is worth making the addition
al advance in order to realize the p2ace
for which we have already struggled
for nothing Is more certain than that
until normal conditions are restored
in Europe there can be no peace
above all things. would say that
whatever action is taken should be
taken Immediately. The crisis is so