The Washington herald., 1920-01-29
WILSON URGES
FOOD RELIEF
Regrets Congress Failed to
Recognize Need Of
Starving Europeans.
$50, 100000 IS NEEDED
Asks Sec. Glass to Renew
Efforts In Congress for
Armenians.
$50, 600, 900 IS NEEDED

Expressing regret that Congress
! mas failed to take any action on
the request for an appropriation of
Sl5O.000.000 to relieve the stringent
food situation in Poland. Austria,
Armenia and other famine stricken
nations of Central and Southern Eu-
rope. President Wilson in a letter
10 Secretary Glass yesterday urged
that he renew his requests to Con-
gress for prompt action.
The appropriation is now pending
before Congress. 1t has been urged
by Secretary Glass. Herbert Hoover,
General Bliss and others who de-
clare that starvation will kill thou
sands If this relief Is not authorized.
According to Mr.. Hoover. practically
all of the credits extended would
be easily recoverable.
President wilson's letter to Sec
retary Glass follows: with consid-
erable regret 1 have noticed from
the press that Congress is delaying
the granting of authority for the
extension of prompt and generous
relief to the stricken portions of
Europe. the urgency and Importance
of which. especially in respect to
Poland. Austria and Armeeia. you
have already explained to tine Ways
, and Means Committee.
.UnthinkabIe, to Him.
1T Is unthinkable to me that we
should withhold from these people
who are in such mental and physical
distress the assistance which can be
rendered by making available on credit
a small portion of our exportable sur
plus food which would alleviate the
situation. While l am sure that you
must have explained fully to the
Ways and Means Committee the ap-
palling situation in these parts OF
Europe where men, women and cnil-
dren are now dying of starvation and
the urgent necessity for prompt as
sistance. l beg of you to make an
other appeal to Congress.
Il am Informed through the pub
lished report of hearings before the
Ways and Means Committee that
Congress has now been furnished with
incontrovertible facts showing the
necessity for immediate affirmative
action This prosperous repuJli,
ought not to bear any part of the
responsibility for the moral and ma
terial chaos that must result from
an unwillingness on our part to aid
those less fortunate than ourselves.
We can not. merely to husband a
small portion OF our surplus, permit
the happening of this great catas-
trophe-
WOODROW WILSON"
Chicago People Ask Embargo.
While Secretary Glass was ap-
pearing before the House Ways and
Means Committee urging loans to
feed starving people of Europe. a
delegation from Chicago appeared
before the House Agriculture Com
mittee and claimed that high prices
are causing undernourishment of
thousands of children there.
Embargoes limiting the export of
American foodstuffs were recon-
mended as the only means of bring
ing down prices. the high cost of
living is the real problem before
Congress today. members of the
delegation declared.
John d. Robertson, health COM
missioner of Chicago. declared that
the number of undernourished chill
dren in that city had increased from
$4,000 out of 50O.O 900 in 1916 to 100.-
900 this year.
Russell Poole, head of the Bureau
OF Markets in Chicago, declared
there is a surplus of 100000. 900
bushels of wheat in this country
and that prices are remaining high
without cause.