, 1923-08-01
Continued False Alarm

Still from time to time are heard the walls Of
lnternatlonalists, seeking to involve us in Europe's
political and economical troubles that we ought to
do something to help the stricken European coun-
tries.
All of the money or credits furnished Europe
since the war has been for the purpose of helping
rebuild devastated areas and place the war-torn
peoples firmly upon the highway to peace and re.
construction.
One of the first acts of the United States gov
ernnent was the authorization by Congress for the
sale of war supplies and equipment, owned by this
country but located in Europe, to any of the gov.
ernments who were our allies. Under this act, the
supplies and machinery were to be turned over to
the countries needing them for reconstruction pur-
poses, without any cash in return, the sale being
made on credit.
Under the provisions of this act. Euroneap
nations purchased 1914, 7O6, 300 worth of supplies ON
credit upon the representation that they could use
the supplies to rebuild their devastated areas or
TO sustain their stricken populations. Some of
the countries did this. Others took the supplies
and resold them to European customers for cash
None of these supplies have been paid for. In
addition, there has been accumulated an interest
account of more than $1S,00O,0 900.
Early in 1919 the Congress made another appro.
prlation authorizing the expenditure by the treas.
ury department of $lOO,0oOIOOO for foodstuffs and
other supplies for European countries. Accord.
ing to the official records i'm the Treasury depart-
mem, inc United states government expended 1884,.
O93,963 of this sum for food and other supplies.
with the exception of Finland, which has per.
fected an arrangement with this country refundinr
her debt and is making payments on it, none of this
principal mas been repaid to the United States gov.
eminent. In addition to the principal, interest
has accumulated to the amount of $12,192 S6S.
In March, 1920, the United States Congress-
authorized the United States grain corporation to
sell on credit 100000 barrels of flour to relieve
the needs of European countries. Under the
provisions of this act, $55,S5S,S02 was expended on
flour sent to Europe. None of this has been
repaid, and in addition, interest charges in the sum
of $6,731, 99S have accumulated.
All of these sums were furnished by the United
States government, paid out of the United States
Treasury from money raised by taxing the Ameri.
can people. All of it has been expended in Europe
in the work of reconstruction since the armistice.
None of IT has been repaid.
In addition to this sum taken out of the United
States Treasury, hundreds of millions of dollars
have been expended in helping reconstruct Europe
in various other ways. The American Relief Adj
ministration, an organization created by the gov.
eminent and employing government funds, has OK.
pended over $66,000,0 900 in Russia. The American
Red Gross has expended in excess of $685. 900 900
since the armistice was signed in an endeavor 10
get Europe on its feet. A number of religious
denominations have been constantly at work in
Europe with large staffs, and through these have
expended tens of millions of dollars.
We should rather imagine that this showing
makes 1t clear that the United States has in no
sense deserted Europe and that there is no truth in
any charge that we are n nation Of money grabbers.
or that We have lost our ideals and our interest in
humanity.