The Mankato free press., 1923-12-21
SEEKS AID AT ONCE.
HELP FOR GERMANY ASKED
BYST. LOUIS PAPERS
Supports Its Appeal On Letter
Written BY Herbert Hoover,
To Hamilton Fish, Jr.

Germany" the German publication,
Amerika, published in st. Louis
makes a strong plea for the relief
Of the hungry people OF Germany.
The article states that "in spite
Of the manifold reports Of travellers
returning from abroad and innurn-
erable letters from stricken Ger
many there stil remains lurking
doubt In the minds OF many as to
the real suffering in that country.
While the article says that many
Of the middle class OF German men
and women are starving for want
Of proper food, it also states that
crowds OF high -livers" are swarm
ing the German cities. The article
SCOTS at the idea that Germany is
shamming to avoid her treaty obli I.
cations and gain the sympathy OF
the world. While admitting that
there are "high-livers and high
fiiers in the large German cities,
the article states: "The doubt con-
corning Germany's dishonest COM
plants and cries for help are OF
course, unfounded and unjust. Those
that have made a study Of condi-
tions know full we'll that the high
livers and high -fliers are, for sthe
most part, foreigners and a cer-
tain class Of men who, by usurious
practices, have drawn the life blood
from the heart OF the people. We
also know for q certainty that, even
il all received their fair share OF
food, there would not be enough TO
keep any single one in health and
vigor."
After quoting a report Of Herbert
Hoover on conditions in Germany,
which states that the Germans are
laboring under the depreciation o
the mark, inability to finance i'm
ports, and are facing the great un-
employment problem, the article
closes with an urgent appeal tor
congressional action In the United
States to relieve the situation. The
conditions in Germany have been
published and republished so 1t will
not be necessary for The Free
Press to publish Mr.. Hoovers letter
to Hamilton Fish, Jr., in full.
The Amerika winds up its appeal
as follows: "This official letter OF
our Secretary OF Commerce ought
to satisfy the most critical doubter
and move all our people to work for
some measure or government relief
in favor of the hungry and freezing
multitudes in Germany. The New
ton Bill, now before congress,
would seem to, have the best
chances of success. It would be no
more than fair and human to write
to your senator and congressman In
favor of the bill. Will you not do SO
today?"
The comments Of The Minneapo-
lis Tribune relative to aid for Ger
many are interesting: - :.
"The administration is keeping its
head on the question OF American
aid to the Germans who's are said to
be in distress. IT wishes to know,
first, whether extensive hunger is a
fac. or so far only a menace. 1t be-
lieves that. in lieu of making the
government q Lady Bountiful OF
charity, any assistance, which Is
rendered might better take the form
Of established credit whereby Am
erican supplies may be procured by
purchase. Something may arise, of
course, to change or modify this
program, but in the present light
aid on a busines basis is preferred
to aid on strictly charitable basis.
If there is real need for gifts of
money or supplies, the American
~eople In their private capacity may
be depended on to furnish it, as
they haye done SO literally in the
case Of hungry Russians and others.
Administration leaders are far
from putting humanitarian aspects
out Of their minds. That would not
comport with the American spirit
they represent. If suitable credit
machinery is established through
which the Germans will be able to
elp themselves, ample leeway
| doubtless will be given for discharge
OF the obligation thus created. The
American government will be duly
regardful OF conditions, and will not
press for payment OF the debt incur
red any more than it has pressed
any other foreign war suffering
country to meet its contractual OBJ
legations per schedule.
The German people are woefully
disorganized and demoralized as II
is. It would i'll become this country
to do anything that might under
mine their self-respect or weaken
the spirit of self reliance. A gov
ernment donation would be more
likely to have that effect than the
voluntary outpourings of the people
as human beings sympathetic to-
ward other human beings less hap
PLY postured. The government did
appropriate twenty four million dol
lars for the Russian sufferers to
help meet truly desperate situa.
tion. A precedent was thus estab-
iished, but more eloquently appeal
ing to the world spirit of good will
was the forty five million dollars
which poured into Russia from Am
erican philanthropic sources.
III Germany Is TO be helped there
is proper consideration OF moral
fiber to be taken into account as
we'll as the consideration of gnaw-
ing stomachs and ILL., clothed bodies.
Emergencies often over,rule, pro-
grams and policies. but In so far as
may be emergencies are to be dealt
with on systematic business lines.
About all that the American gov
ernment got out of its generosity
toward Russia was the expenditure
or soviet cash in this country for
propaganda that was meant to in
cite the pinks to revolution with q
hope to nlant the red rag on the
dome OF the nations capital.
Polio. Chased soeeder
"innna