The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1921-08-12
HO0vER'S OFFER
ACCEPTED BY REDS
Russia Agrees to Free Ameri-
cans Held Prisoners for
Famine Aid.
ASKS SPEEDY NEGOTIATIONS
Thought Also to Answer Hughes.
BoIshevists Sarcastic at "Hu-
name Pressure" of u. S.

Riga.-Herbert Hoover's offer to aid
Russia fight the famine on condition
all Americans now held prisoners by
the Soviets be released has been ac-
cepted by the government, which sug-
gests Immediate negotiations, accord
ing to a dispatch from the Rosta News
Agency, of Moscow, received here.
Although without word as to when
and by what route the released Ameri-
cans will be sent across the border,
the American Red Cross and the Amer
lean mission in Riga began making
plans Immediately to receive them.
The text Of the reply, made in the
name Of Leo -kamenoff, head of the
Non-Partisans' Non-Political Famine
Relief Committee, is as follows:
e: 'The Russian government, upon
learning of the proposals made by Her
bert Hoover in the name of the Ameri-
can Relief Association, finds them
quite acceptable, including the question
of the release of American citizens. 1t
considers 1t necessary to fix as soon
as possible the exact conditions on
which the immediate relations are to
begin
Its humane intentions guarantee the
feeding, medical aid and clothing Of
1,000,OO children and invalids For
this purpose the Russian government
considers it useful that Director Brown
or any other person authorized for the
negotiations should Immediately come
to Moscow, Riga or Reval. The Rus.
sian Soviet government expects a.
quick reply, stating the place and time
for the negotiations.
NJ Kameneff's reply was sent by
Maxim Gorky to the Soviet mission in
London for delivery there through the
American relief organization, accord
ing to the local Bolshevik legations.
The acceptance by Russia of the de-
mand for the release Of the American
prisoners did not come as a surprise
to local Soviet authorities, notwith-
standing the outspoken criticisms of
the United States for raising the pris-
oner question in a time of famine. So
Wet officials are understood to believe
their acceptance will not only bring
the needed famine relief but also open
channels of future relations between
Russia and America.
American government representa-
tives in Riga consider the note as con-
stituting also an answer to the de-
mand made by Secretary of State
Hughes for the release of the American !
prisoners in Russia.
The American relief organization. in /
the Baltic says it is in no position to |
extend aid on q large scale to Russia |
Mt present, having only sufficient sup |
plies on hand for its relief work in
the Baltic area, it was explained II
with the news of the Rus
sian acceptance. Hence it is expected |
the supplies must be rushed from the |
United States.
On the basis of press reports that |
the reply was being sent by way Of
London, officials here say it might he !
expected at any time. State Depart
nent officials think, on the other hand,
10 formal answer will be made to the
American governments demand for
he release of its citizens held by the
Soviet, but if they were freed under
he conditions of Secretary Hoovers
Dffer the Russian authorities would
ct the action stand as speaking for
tself. Release of Mrs. Harrison I'M
was said to indicate the
possible adoption of such course.
In the absence of an official answer
O the Relief Administrations offer,
Secretary Hoover withheld comment.
lie indicated, however, relief work
ould begin within forty-eight hours
rom the time American prisoners were
ut of Russia and representatives of
he administration would be sent at
nee to Riga to negotiate the details
f food distribution.
The newspaper Novy Put, official
,olshevik organ here, asserts the ques-
ion of releasing imprisoned Ameri
ans was in no way connected with
he famine in Russia.