The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-18
49,. - INST rot incur.

FRENCH peasant Is working and the
French artisan while still sadly in
naed 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 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
unon 70 do her part. England Is
meeting the problems OF reconstruc.
tim inst as those who knew her
n.st should have expected her to
meet them. i...~-
Plan To Aid Central Europe.
It 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
do" I am glad to give my own an
swer.
Accordingly. would ask:
That Congress Immediately pass
bill appropriating sum not to ex-
CGed $5UU,UUU,UVo AoA Sn0 WV - WV.
trail and Eastern Europe.
2, That Congress call upon the
President to appoint non-political
commission OF three Americans. dis
tinguished for their character and
executive ability and commanding
the respect of the. American people.
Such a commission should include
men of the type of Gen. Pershing, Mr..
Hoover or ex-secretary Lane. would
invest that commission with COM
plete power.
would have the commission
instructed to proceed at once accom-
panied by proper personnel to survey
conditions in Central and Eastern Eu-
rome 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 bv 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, I should
make them liberal. l 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 it's exchange
conditions were so adverse as to make
payment unduly burdensome:/ I
should make the maturity Of the OBJ
LEGATION Is years from it's date and I
should have no doubt as to its final
payment. y
S. 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
job in such a manner as after study
you think it should be done. This is
no ordinary undertaking. The Amer.
lean people trust you to- see that it
is done right" would also say to
the commission:
use so much of this money as Is
needed" Personally l am confident
that with the assistance and cooper
alton 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-
lions.
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:
I'VE know how serious your finan-
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 economize but we
also know that the American Govern
ment advanced $4,000, 900, 900 to its
allies to attain victory and peace. Ger
tainly it 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, would say that