Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-05-20
that We must not incur.

French artisan while Still sdulJ IA
need of raw materials has not lost his
habit of industry and THRIFT. Ano
most encouraging fact about FRANCE
today is that her people are alive 70
the seriousness OF Frances problem
and they are going forward bravery
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 reconstruct
ton Just as those who knew hef
past should have expected her 70
meet them.
Plan To Aid Central Europe.
1t is not for me perhaps to give
in detail formula for solution OF
the worlds ills but as l have been
asked many times. what would you
do, l am glad to give my own an
swer.
Accordingly. l would ask:
l. That Congress Immediately pass
bill appropriating d sum not to eX
coed $500 100000 for the use of Cen
trail and Eastern Europe.
2 That Congress call upon the
President to appoint non-poiitlcal
commission of three Americans, dis
tinguished for their character and
executive ability and commanding
the respect of the American people.
Such commission should include
men of the type of Gen. Pershing, Mr..
Hoover or ex-secretary Lane, would
invest that commission with COM
plete power.
3. | would have the commission
instructed to proceed at once accom-
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
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 exer
else by the commission of its own
prerogative of alloting materials.
Governmental politics should be
eliminated, unreasonable and preju
dicial barriers between the various
countries should be removed and such
substantial guarantees 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 con-
ditions of the country were not ap-
preaching normal, or if its exchang
conditions were so adverse as to make
payment unduly burdensome.
should make the maturity of the OBJ;
legation 10 years from its date and
should have no doubt as to its final
payment.
5. Immediately the plan was adopt
ed l would have our government in
vite other governments in a position
to assist to participate in the under
taking.
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
iph in c,,ph y,appar af ct,,d "
you think it should be done This is
no ordinary undertaking The Amer.
lean people trust you to see that it
is done right" l would also say to
the commission:
use SO much of this money as is
needed" Personally am confident
that with the assistance and cooper.
alton which would come from other
parts of the world the sum of $780,
$1,000 from the United States would
be more than enough to start these
countries on their way to self-support
and the restoration of normal condis
tons
The whole plan of course involves
| many practical considerations, the
most serious Of which is that of OBJ
tanning the money whether by issu-
ing additional liberty bonds an In
crease in the floating debt or by tax
alton. But | think we could properly
| say to the treasury department:
We know how serious your tinan-
| cial problems are, we know the diff
culties which are Immediately con.
| fronting you, we know the Importance
Of defation and we know that the
| Government must economic and that
| individuals must economic but we
| also know that the American Govern
ment advanced 0,O00, O00 900 to its
| allies to attain victory and peace Ger
ain1y 1t is worth making the addition
| al advance in order to realize the
| peace 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, I would say that
whatever action is taken should be
taken Immediately The crisis is Sc
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