The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-09-04
AMERICA To AID
OF STRICKEN JAPAN
PRESIDENT ISSUES PROCLAMA-
TI0N-WILL PUSH RELIEF ON
HUGE SCALE

WaShington-The United States
moved swiftly Monday to bring the
full force of the government and the
people to the aid of stricken Japan.
While government executive depart
ments were directed to assist in the
work, the public was urged in an
appeal issued by President Coolidge
to contribute funds through the
American Red Cross for aiding the
unfortunate and giving relief to the
people of Japan.
The Red Cross at once announced
that it had started the fund with q
contribution of 100000 for the relief
of victims of the earthquake and In
addition had appropriated from its
reserve funds $4,000 for the assist
ance of Americans caught in the dis
aSter zone.
Arrangements were made at the
same time for individual contributions
to be received either through the ma
tional headquarters or through any
Red Cross chapters. The funds will
be sent through the state department
to the Japanese Red Cross, an eff
c1ent organization
Efforts, it was emphasized, will be
directed toward assisting the sister
nation on the farther shores of the
Pacific, by every available means, not
merely because of the long friendship
which has existed unbroken through
the years between the two countries,
but because of the broad humani-
tartan considerations involved In the
great catastrophe. Nor is it forgot
ten by the United States, in thus be-
ing the first country to tender it's
assistance, that similar services were
given quickly by Japan through it's
lied Cross to San Francisco after the
devastating earthquake and fire of
1916. The desire Of the Washington
government to be of any service pos
sible was made known to Ambassa-
dor Hanihara of Japan during the
day when he visited both the state
department and the White House for
conferences with Acting President
Phillips and President Coolidge I'm
mediately afterward the presidents
appeal for funds was issued.
The text of the presidents procla-
nation follows:
"To the people of the United
States:
An overwhelming disaster has
overtaken the people of the friendly
nation of Japan. While it's extent has
not as yet been officially reported,
enough is known to justify the state
ment that the cities of Toxic and
Yokohama and surrounding towns
and villages have been largely If not
completely destroyed by earthquake,
fire and flood, with the resultant ap-
palling loss of life and destitution and
distress, requiring measures of urgent
relief. I
Such assistance as is within the
means of the executive department of
the government will be rendered. but
realizing the great suffering which
now needs relief and will need relief
Tor days to come, I am prompted to
appeal urgently to the American
people whose sympathies have always
been so comprehensive to contribute
in aiding the unfortunate and in CIV
ing relief to the people of Japan,
In order that the utmost co-ordin-
alton and effectiveness in the admin
istraticn of the relief funds be OBJ
tanned, [ recommend that all contri-
buttons, clearly designated be sent
to the chairman of the American Ma
tional Red Cross at Washington or to
any of the local Red Cross chapters
for transmission to JAPAN