Evening star., 1940-01-10
System
In Action Again
For Finns' Relief
Son of Founder Now in
U. S. to Join Forces
With Hoover
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 10.-Nansen-
aid stations, flying the red, white
and blue nag OF Norway, are rising
again-this time on the war-rav-
aged Karelian ISthmuS of Finland.
It is the third time in the past
two years that this service for
homeless refugees has been re-
vived, perpetuating an organization
founded by man who gained
world wide fame a half century ago
as an Arctic explorer.
Behind it is the story of a sons
devotion to his father, and Of per-
sonal sacrifices by both of them to
aid the ever-mounting victims Of
wars, famines and politics.
Odd Nansen, the big. handsome
son of the explorer, Fridtjof Nansen,
has come to America to join forces
with Herbert Hoover in raising
funds for the aid of Finland.
Saved 100000 Russians.
Il am confident" he said. that
the Russians respect my father and
Mr.. Hoover. who worked together IN
saving the lives Of at least 10000 900
Russians when three time that
many we're starving in the famine
of 1922. In memory of that work
I trust the Russians will not inter-
fere with the work Of the Nansen-
aid stations in Finland"
In Austria, in Czecho-Slovakia,
and now to aid homeless Firms. the
38-year-old son of the explorer has
turned from his career as an archi-
test to direct activities of the Nam
sen-Hjelp, as his organization is
known In Norwegian.
Young Nansen, built like q foot
ball fullback, studied three years in
America, and now is architect OF q
new airport for Oslo, Norway's cap
itaL
MY father gave up the last 10
years Of his life to refugee work,
until his death in $780," he said.
Even the Nobel Peace Prize money
won by the elder Nansen went into
Nansen-Hjelp.
Passport Memorial to Nansen.
More than 1000 900 persons with
out . country" are able today to pass
the ever Tightening customs barriers
of many nations because they carry
passport bearing the name and
picture Of Nansen. Five years before
his death the elder Nansen saw this
memorial to his name inaugurated
by the League of Nations.
AT first they were issued only to
Russians overflowing Europe and
the Armenians driven out of Tur-
key" said young Nansen. who since
1890 also has directed the Nansen
passport ONCE in Norway.
THE Armenians are still serious
refugee problem, although we have
lost sight Of it with so many Euro
pean troubles" he said. Later
these passports were issued to As
syrians, Chaldeans, Christian Turks
and refugees from the Saar. when
that province voted to join Ger
many in 1885,"
Began Work in Russia.
Although Germany admitted Nam
sen passport holders in peace years
it issued its own "Fremden" pass
port to refugees leaving Germany
But my father would be ever
more happy to know his name il
carried on with the revival Of Nan.
sen aid" the son said. He started
it as q personal enterprise to gel
World War prisoners and others ou1
OF Russia when the League Of Ma.
tions and Bolshevist regime wouldnr
have anything to do with each
other"
Odd Nansen organized a Nansen.
aid ONCE in Vienna before the Nazi.
took it over. Then to Czecho-Slo.
vakia, where he said several thou
sand were almost certain to be
killed, II they were caught by Ger
mans"
Il felt like an executioner because
I had to pick only . few hundred
to be saved-we had 50 little money,