The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-01
POLITICS NOT
PROMPTING u. S.
AID FOR RUSSIA
America Informs Eu.
rope Project Is Nom
Governmental.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright, 1929
ESPECIAL to The ArPnS) !

/ states government is making il
| clear to the governments of Europe
| that the American relief administra-
| ton which has undertaken to help
Russia is a non-governmentaI insti-
tuition and that it would be prefer
able If the whole relief project were
stripped of any governmental as
7 pect whatsoever.
The supreme council recently
4 voted to cooperate with the United
] States government on Russian re-
/ lief believing the American govern
ment had been negotiating with the
! soviet government. This misunder-
standing arose because Secretary
! Hoover is a member of President
| Harding's cabinet and is at the
same time the head of the American
relief administration Mr.. Hoover
| entered the Harding cabinet with
the understanding that he be per-
mltted to carry on the relief work
in Europe and Mr.. Harding consent
ed to the arrangement.
Reasons Are Obvious.
But even if there were no doubt
about the absolute separation be-
tween the Washington government
and the American relief administra-
ton which is a consolidation of
charitable organizations, the Euro
pean governments would probably
have proposed governmental relief.
There are very substantial reasons
! why the United States government
thinks the relief project should be
kept as far as possible out of the
realm of government In the first
place, the chances of breeding mis-
understanding in Russia by per
mitting an allied expedition OF
agents to rove around Russia under
the pretense of studying relief but
with the object of getting data
wherewith to handle the political
situation are recognized here.
Secondly, the soviet government
has been endeavoring for some time
to enter into diplomatic relations
with other governments on one pre-
text or another so as to- give the
impression inside Russia that the
soviet program is being recognized
throughout the world. Those who
believe the soviet methods must be
abandoned think the quickest way
d
good government in Russia with
deal is to leave the situation to the
Russians themselves to develop
without outside interference.
Soviet Expected Recognition.
When the relief project was first
broached to America even the Rus
slams had an idea that it would mean
the resumption of relations with the
American government The depart
ment of state did take a hand in the
proceedings to the extent of advis-
ing the American relief administra-
ton that the Washington govern
ment wanted all American prisoners
released before relief work should
begin and this wish was respected.
Now, however, the American gov
ernment takes no further part in the
negotiation or the execution of re-
lief plans. All the American charit-
able organizations interested in
Russian relief have been united
under the direction of General Has
kell
1t is the firm intention of the
American relief administration to
cooperate with any allied effort but
under no circumstances will Amerl-
can charities be turned over to
Europeans for administration Each
nation wanting to help Russia can
do so on its own responsibility and
will find America ready to coordin-
ate so as to prevent overlapping.
But the men who have raised funds
from the American people have a
to the donors which
the American relief adminiStra-
ton feels it cannot ignore.
No Yankee Propaganda
Americas purposes in Russian
relief are wholly non-political. The
United States government under
stands that the American relief ad-
is not interested IN
carrying on any propaganda for or
against sovietjsm or with respect to
any other political phase or the
Russian situation. There are those
who think the European habit OF
mixing international politics with
relief projects would find express
sion in the present instance ana
that a tie-up of the American ma
chinery with that of the European
governments WOulu q 49, b
the American project in sentimental
value and funds might not be as
readily obtainable.
While the European powers nave
lust appointed a committee to go TO |
Russia and study the situation, the
relief project is under
way. Fifteen men have been sent ,
into all parts of the country to re-
port on the true state OF anairs. Es
Inmates vary as to the NUMBER OF
persons in distress all the way from
len to fifty million Secretary
Hoover is inclined to believe tnat
the Russian problem has gone far
bevend the reach of charity 1t is
said that nine million children are
starving. The American reIief ao-
has undertaken to heIp
one million, but If the number OF
neople affected by the famine Is
ifty million none of the rellef pro
iects will be adequate. the Iacts
should be available within Tort
night.
MORE BODIES FOUND IN ZR-s.