New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-25
American Captives Must
Be Freed Before Food
Will Be Sent, He Says
i'm Cable to Corky
Demands a Free
Hand for Agents
Declares Soviet Guaranty
of Freedom for Relief
Staff Is an Essential
From The Trihune,a Wnshiu nto,, p..-ea.,

WASHINGTON, July 24.-In line
with the announcement that the United
States government would require the
release Of Americans held prisoner in
Russia before any relief for famine
sufferers would be forthcoming, Sec
retary of Commerce Herbert Hoover.
who is also chairman Of the American
Relief Administration, to-day dis
patched to Maxim Gorky, at Petro-
grad, a statement of Americas posi-
tion
Chairman Hoover said that the Rus
sian authorities also would have to
give assurances that American relief
workers will not be interfered with
in any way in their charitable work.
and the hearty cooperation of the Rus
sian people must be pledged before the
American organization can enter upon
the work of assisting the stricken
children Of that country.
Mr.. Hoover's telegram to Mr.. Gorky
was similar to one dispatched six
months ago, when the first offer to
assist in relieving distress in Russia
was made. The message follows:
IL have read with great feeling your
appeal to Americans for charitable as
sistance to the starving and sick people
of Russia, more particularly the chill
dren.
Must Release Captive
"To the whole American people the
sine qua non of any assistance must
be the immediate release of the Amer
leans now held prisoner in Russia
Once this step has been taken the
American Relief Administration, o
purely voluntary association and en-
entirely unofficial organization, of
which l am chairman, together with
other cooperating charitable American
organizations supported wholly through
the generosity of the American people.
have funds in hand by which assist
ance for the children and for the sick
could be undertaken Immediately
This organization has previously in
the last year intimated its willingness
to undertake this service as one OF
simple humanity disengaged absolutely
from any political, social or religion
motives.
However, for obvious administra.
tive reasons, it has been and is com
PEELED to stipulate for certain under
taklngs. Subject to the acceptance of
these undertakings we are prepared to
enter upon this work. We are to-day
caring for three and one half millions
OF children in ten different countries
and would be willing to furnish neces-
81 sary supplement- OF rood, clothing and
medical supplies to million children
in Russia as rapidly as organization
could be effected. The administrative
conditions that we are obliged to make
are ldentically the same as those that
nave been established in every one of
the twenty-three countries where oper-
ations have been conducted one time
or another in care of upward of eight
million children.
Demands Free Hand
The conditions are that the Mos
COW Soviet authorities should give a
direct statement to the relief admins
tratlon representatives in Riga: (A)
That there is need Of our assistance
OBJ That American representatives of
the relief administration shall be
given full liberty to come and 90 and
move about Russia; CO. That these
members shall be allowed to organize
the necessary local committees with
local assistance free from governmen.
tai interference; (D) That they sffall
be given free transporta tion of i'm
ported supplies with priority over
other traffic; that the authorities shall
assign necessary buildings and equip
ment and fuel free of charge; (E)
That in addition to the imported food
clothing and medicines the children
and sick must be given the same ra.
tions of such local supplies as are
given to the rest of the population;
(F) That the relief administration
must have the assurance of non~in
reference of the governmentnw with the
liberty of all Of its members.
Pledges Full Fairness
Con its side the relief administra
tion is prepared as usual to make 6
free and frank undertaking first thai
it will within it's resources supply al
children and invalids alike without
regard to race, creed, or social status;
second, that its representatives ane
assistants in Russia will engage in ne
political activities.
81 desire to repeat that these condi
tions are in no sense extraordinary
but are identical with those laid dowr
and readily accepted by the twenty
three other governments in whose ter
ritories we have operated"
~ NNeTEe M .ET