The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-06-03

habit Of industry and thrift The most
encouraging fact about France today
Is that her people are alive to the seri.
BUSINESS Of Frances problem, and they
are going forward bravely to solve
that problem
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.
It is not for me- perhaps, to give in
detail formula for solution of the
worlds ills, but as I have been asked
many times, What would you dog" I
am glad to give my own answer.
Accordingly, would ask:
1. That Congress Immediately pass
bill appropriating a sum not to ex-
coed $500,000,000 for the use Of cen
trail and eastern Europe.
2. That Congress call upon the Presi-
dent to appoint nonpolitical commits
sion Of three Americans, distinguished
for their character and executive abili-
ty and commanding the respect of the
American people. Such commission
should include men of the type of Cen
eral Pershing, MI. Hoover or ex-Secre-
mission with complete power.
3. l would have the commission in
structed to proceed at once, accom-
panied by proper personnel, to survey
conditions in central and eastern Eu-
rope and then act for the restoration
OF those countries under such condi-
tons and upon such terms as the COM
mission itself may decide to be prac-.
ticable and effective. Among the con-
ditions should be provided that there
should be no local interference with
the free and untrammeled exercise by
the commission # It's own prerogative
OF allocating materials Governmental
politics should be eliminated; unrea-
sonable and prejudicial barriers be-
tween the various countries should be
removed, and such substantial guaran-
tees as may be available should be
exacted in order that the conditions
imposed should be fulfilled.
4. AS to financial terms, 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 interest might be
funded if the economic conditions of
the country were not approaching
normal, or if its exchange conditions
we're so adverse as to make payment
unduly burdensome. l should make
the maturity of the obligation Is years
from its date, and should have no.
doubt as to its final payment
5. Immediately the plan was adopt
ed would have our government invite
other governments in position to as
sist, to participate in the undertaking.
6. To set forth completely my
opinion, should add that in the final
instructions the American people
through their government, should say
to the commission:
I'VE want you to go and do this job
in such manner as, after study, you
think it should be done. This is no
ordinary undertaking The American
people trust you to see that it is done
right"
also would say to the commission:
use so much of this money as is
needed"
Personally, am confident that with
the assistance and cooperation which
would come from other parts Of the
world the sum of $500, OOO,O from the
United States would be more than
enough to start these countries on
their way to self support and the
restoration of normal conditions
The whole plan, of course, involves
many practical considerations, the
most serious of which is that Of OBJ
tanning the money, whether by issuing
additional 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
culties which are Immediately con-
fronting you; we know the Importance
Of def1atiOn, and we know that the gov
CAAAuCuI luuSl 0COuOullZc AnO- C0GC IN.
dividuals must economic but we also
know that the American government
advanced s1O,OO0,O0O, 900 to its allies
to attain victory and peace Certainly
it is worth making the additional ad-
vance in order to realize the peace for
which we have already struggled, for
nothing is more certain than. that I'M
til 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
acute that the situation does not ad-
NIT Of delay, except with the possible
ty Of consequences one hardly dares
contemplate. .s
The situation that I have spread out
here is far beyond the scope Of indivi-
dual charity. Only by the action Of
governments, our own and the others
whose resources enable them to COOP
crate; can aid be given In sufficient
volume. I am also confident that our
action would be followed by the gov