The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-01-23
Hoover Favors u. S.
Credit For Finland
Former President as Relief Chairman Points Out
Favorable Points in Proposed Negotiations

"The furnishing Of raw materials
and manufactured goods, and later
In tn. spring Of bulk food supplies,
is beyond the field or capacity OF
private charity. Private charity viii
be put to 1t to cover the restitution
and necessities OF 100000 women
and children now driven by aerial
attack from their towns and cities.
And there are still other eInergen-
cies that will need to be served by
such charity. The Finnish Relief
Fund Is endeavortng to cover this
field.
Separate Issues
! should like to suggest that we
the whole question Of food
supplies from manufactured goods
and raw materials. Raw materials
and manufactured goods have a
different complexion from food.
They are questions Of commerce
and should be covered by extending
the credit for their purchase.
AS TO food I believe I express the
wish OF a great many American
people that our government should
furnish from our surplus the bulk
food to such countries as Finland
and Poland without requiring
monetary obligations. Both these
little countries are dependent. upon
imports for part Of their food sup
ply. They are now blockaded. Their
exports are cut off They Lave no
resources Of private credits with
which to buy. When their last
years harvest is exhausted they
will be faced with famine The stu
alton Is wholly different from the
major belligerents. 1t is possible II
the war spreads there may be other
Of the little countries Of Europe
where this situation Of Finland and
Poland may be repeated.
In other words, my proposal is
that instea Of loaning money TO
make such purchases to prevent
starvation and setting up an obliga-
ton over long years, with constant
aftermaths, we ought to make It, q
gift and then forget 1t. The Argen-
tine government has already made a
gift Of 100000 bushels Of wheat to
Finland. The Brazilian government
has made them a gift Of 100000
pounds Of coffee. These govern.
meats are taking no obligations for
repayment.
Food Surplus
We In the United States have q
great food surplus. Our government
has already, directly or indirectly
bought and paid for part Of this
surplus through the various agricul-
tural agencies. 1t Is a relief to our
farmers to have 1t exported from
our borders. To furnish some Of
this surplus to these areas Of dam
gerous starvation does not deprive
our people OF one atom, and In fact
1t entails no new expenditure Of
public funds.
I would estimate that for both
Finland and Poland the needs to
next harvest would not amount to
a value Of more than $40, 1000, 900.
We spent something like 4 billions
per annum on the relief of the ,lr1-
employed II. the United States. We
could add about one-half Iof one
per cent to our relife expenditures
and include the Films and Poles In
our family Of distressed. But In any
event the government already has
spent the money buying surplus or
will spend 1t In the ordinary course.
have no doubt the Firms and
Poles will want to repay 1t, but 1t
would be better for everybody II we
did as the Argentine and Brazilian
governments are doing.
Those who would argue against
this proposal should read Luke,
Chapter 10, beginning with the 30th
verse;"
HERBERT HOOVER.