The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-17
ONE OF MOST TERRIBLE
TRAGEDIES OF HISTORY
Being Enacted in the Territory Lying
Between the Baltic and the Black
and Adriatic Seas, Says
Henry p. Dawson.

Des Moines. Iowa, May l7--Henry
p. Dawson, chairman OF the board OF
governors of the League OF Red Cross
Societies, told the general conference
of the Methodist Episcopal church TO-
dav 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 Baltic
states. Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Aus
tria, Ukraine, Hungary, Rumania, Al
bania, Montenegro and Serbia.
Mr.. Dawson asked that Congress
Immediately appropriate not exceeding
$500 900 900 for the use OF the countries
Of central and eastern Europe. lie re-
ouested that Congress call upon the
president to appoint non-politicta'
commission of three Americans, distln-
gtlished for their character and execu-
tive ability, which should proceed at
once to survey the conditions in these
countries and 10 allocate materials TO
them without interference and ny ex'
ercise OF its own prerogahive. He stig.
aesfed for members of the commission
men of the type Of General Pershing,
Herbert Hoover and former Secretary
FRANKLIN X. Lane. He said he had no
doubt that the obligation would be re-
paid and suggested 1t should run Tor
Is years.
He urged also that the United States
invite other governments IN q position
10 assist and participate in the under
taxing and declared II am confident
that our action would be followed by
the Governments of Great Britain, Hol-
land of the Scandinavian countries,
spain and Japan, and that France and
Belgium and Italy, Notwithstanding
their losses would help to the best OF
their ability"
The sum suggested by Mr.. Dawson
for appropriation by Congress exceeds
| what the Red Cross expected IN the
war and which is placed by him at
| approximatelv S4O0O00.000. Compared
with the $500 DOC, 600 asked by Mr. Da-
vision. Belgian relief fund would be
a drop in the bucket.
Mr.. Dawson said he was custodian
| Of authoritative reports recording ap.
palling conditions among millions OF
people living in eastern Europe.
believe. he said, ''that the apathy and
Indifference which prevail to-day are
dpe alone TO the fact that American
people have not grasPed the dreadful
facts.
"The reports which come to US make
Il clear tina; in these war-ravlshed
lands eivilizion has broken down. Men
women and children are dying ~
Thousands and over vast once-ciyiliked
.reas there are TO be found neither
medical appliances nor medical skiil
sufIicient TO cope with the devastating
plaques -, n.
Summarizing these reports, Mr.. Ia'
vision said that one of the worst ty-
nbns epidemics in the worlds history
now existed among the Poles, who were
threatened with wholesale starvation
dhis summer; that typhus, nnnenza
| smaIlpox or tuberculosis existed u
| Czeeho. Sloyakia. Serbia, Rumania and
tbe Ukraine and that there was lack OF
medicine. soap and physicians 20 com
| bs+ those disea Sos. He pointed 10 the
menace of tvphus cat our threshold
and asked how long before 1t might
| creep to our own shores.
He contrasted this with the condition
{, Tho United States where he said
nlenty abounded and asked il the con
| 5itions we're reversed whether Amer
;esns would not exclaim agaist the
hearelessness Of Europe. We can az
ford TO de- he said. hut to De de'
snised forever as a greedy and phar'
isaical nation is fate we must not IN
cur.