The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-08-20
Supplies Go To
War Prisoners
CONTINUED from Page u

ment has not yet approved the ap-
polntment of an International Red
Cross committee delegate in the
Philippine Islands.
Approval has been given by the
japanese for the transport of sub
stantlal quantities of relief supplies
in the form of food, clothing, med
icines and tobacco, on the exchange
ship Gripsholm, and these supplies
are now enroute. Urgent requests
have been transmitted through Red
Cross and diplomatic channels to
the japanese authorities for safe
conduct for ship to carry an entire
cargo of relief supplies from the
United States for prisoners in Japan
and Japanese occupied territory. A
cargo Of carefully selected relief
supplies has been assembled and
the Red Cross is prepared to dis
patch such ship as soon as safe
conduct can be obtained.
| believe the American people
should be informed of the Difficult
ties and complications that have
been confronted in arranging the
dispatch of relief to American pris-
oners of war. They should be in
formed also, that every channel open
to our Government and to the Red
Cross has been employed in the eff
fort to secure the agreement which
would make such a relief opera
ton possible.
| wish to emphasize the fact that
while every effort is being made
to arrange the dispatch of re-
lief ship, substantial relief for
American prisoners is now enroute
to Japan. Relief supplies already
dispatched on the exchange ship
Gripsholm included 100000 prison
-of-War food parcels, clothing,
large quantities of medical supplies,
tobacco and other comforts.
These goods were transferred at
Laurence Marques, Portuguese, East
Africa, to Japanese exchange ship
under supervision of delegate of
the International Red Cross COM
mittee. When delivered in Japan,
they will be distributed to Ameri-
can military and civilian prisoners
under the direction of DR. Fritz
Paravicini, the International Red
Cross committee delegate.
The American Red Cross has re-
quested that this cargo be distribut-
ed to Americans held in Japan,
Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Manila.
/ wish to emphasize one other
point in this connection and that is
that the American Red Cross has
ample resources at its disposal to
finance this relief operation, and
is not, at this time, seeking con-
tributions for this work. The War
and Navy Departments are provid-
ing clothing for military prisoners,
and have authorized the American
Red Cross to act on their behalf in
the assembly of food parcels for
army and navy personnel. The Red
Cross is providing medical supplies
tobacco, and other supplies for the
relief of American prisoners with
its own funds which are now en-
tirely adequate for that purpose.
Since the cargo of the first re-
lief ship has long been assembled
it is not possible for the Red Cross
to accept the many generous offers
of supplies in kind which have been
received 1t is understandable
relatives of our men held prisoners
desire to contribute money or sup
plies, but they should wait to do sc
until they are authoritatively in
formed how best this may be done
They should be assured that such
information will be given to them
by the American Red Cross or the
agencies of our government at the
earliest possible time.