Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-06-10

meeting the problems of reconstruc-
ton 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 l have been
asked many times, what would you
do, l am glad to give my own an
swer.
Accordingly, would ask:
/. That Congress Immediately pass
a bill appropriating a sum not to ex-
coed $500, 900 900 for the use of Gen.
trail and Eastern Europe.
2, That Congress call upon the
President to appoint a 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.
3. / would have the commission
instructed to proceed at once accom-
panied by proper personnel to survey
conditions in Central and Eastern Eu.
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, l should
make them liberal. I 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 IL the economic con.
ditions of the country were not APP
preaching normal, or II its exchange
conditions were so adverse as to make
payment unduly burdensome.
should make the maturity Of the OBJ
legation Is years from its date and
should have no doubt as to Its final
payment.
5. Immediately the plan was adopt.
ed I would have our government in.
vite other governments in position
to assist to participate in the under.
taking.
s. 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 q manner as after study
you think 1t should be done. This Is
no ordinary undertaking. The Amer.
lean people trust you to see that 1t
is done right" l would also say to
the commissions:
use so much of this money as 10
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,.
OOO,O from the United States would
be more than enough to start these
countries on their way to self1support
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 fnan-
cial problems are, we know the diff
culties which are Immediately con-
fronting you, we know the importance
of denation and we know that the
Government must economic and that
luulNluudlS uuuSt cIOuOulL0 Uuk Wo
also know that the American Govern
ment advanced $40, 900. 900, 900 to its
allies to attain victory and peace. Ger.
tainly 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. / 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
ity OF consequences one hardly dares
contemplate.
The situation that have spread
out here is far beyond the scope Of
individual charity. Only by the ac-
ton OF Governments. our own and,
the others whose resources enable
them to cooperate can aid be given In
sufficient volume. I am also CONF
dent that our action would be follow
ed by the Governments Of Great Bri.
tain, OF Holland, of the Scandinavian
countries, Of Spain and Japan and
that France and Belgium and Italy