The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-05-21

IhiS Is one menace at our threshold
The other. more threatening, more ter.
rible. is the menace of the worlds III
VIII. We can afford to die, but to be
despised forever as greedy and phar-
isaicai nation is fate that we must
not incur
The French government has many
serious problems to solve, but the
! french peasant Is working and the
French artisan, while still sadly In
need Of raw materials, has not lost his
habit OF Industry and thrift. The most
encouraging fact about France today
Is that her people are alive to the Sc
robustness 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.
1t Is not for me perhaps to give in
detail a formula for solution of the
worlds Ills, but as have been asked
many times, what would you DOR I
am glad to give my own answer.
Accordingly, would ask:
L That Congress Immediately pass
a bill appropriating a sum not to ex.
coed $50O.000,OOO for the use of Gen.
trail and Eastern Europe.
z That Congress call upon the Pres.
ident to appoint a nonpolitical COM
mission Of three Americans, distin-
guished for their character and exec
utive ability and commanding the re-
spect of the American people. Such
commission should include men Of
the type of General Pershng Mr.
Hoover or ex-Secretary Lane. would
invest that commission with complete
power.
3. | would have the commission in
structed to proceed at once, accompa-
MED by proper personnel. to survey
conditions in Central and Eastern Eu-
rope and then act for the restoration
or those countries under such condi-
tons and upon such terms as the COM
mission itself may decide to be practi-
cable and effective. Among the con-
dltlons should be provided that there
Should be no local interference with
the free and untrammeled exercise by
the commission of its own prerogative
or advocating 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 ex-
acted In order that the conditions i'm
posed should be fulfilled.
4. AS to financial terms, I should
make them liberal. / would charge no
interest for the first three years; for
the next three years, 6 per cent, with
provision that such interest might be
FUNDED II the economic conditions of
the country were not approaching nor
mai, or II Its exchange conditions were
so ADVERSE as to make payment un-
duly burdensome. l should make the
maturity Of the obligation Is years
from Its date, and should have no
doubt as to its final payment.
d Immediately the plan was adopt.
60 would have our government IN.
vite other governments In q position
20 assist, to participate 10 the under.
taking.
8. To set forth completely my opin-
lon, should add that In the final In.
strurdons the American people.
through their government, should say
to the commission:
I'VE want you to 60 and do this lob
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 1t is done
right"
would also say to the commission:
use so much Of this money as is
needed" Personally, I am confident
that with the assistance and co-opera-
ton which would come from other
parts Of the world the sum of $780,
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-
| tons.
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 I 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 defiation, and we know that the gov
eminent must economic and that in.
dividuals must economize. but we also
know that the American government
advanced $10,OO0.0Oo.OOO to it's allies