Evening star., 1943-11-04
Hoover
Continued From First Page

chief need to combat disease, he said.
is for meats and fats, but he also said
that about 10000 tons a month is
about all that could be distributed
under war conditions.
After Mr. Hoover had mentioned
Gen. PerShing as one of those who
faNorS trying to get food to the
women and children in the occupied
lands, Senator Green, Democrat, of
Rhode Island, asked the witness if he
did not think the judgment of the
present military leaders should be
followed, without undertaking to say
what their viewpoint is.
Not Military Question.
The former President said he
would give great weight to their
views, but insisted it is not a mill
tary question. He also emphasized.
however, that he would not send
food for civilians into any occupied
area unless the Germans agreed to
leave the native supply III that area
intact. 1t would always be possible.
he added, to work out exchanges of
one food staple for another, how
ever
Senator johnson. Democrat, of
Colorado said the beligerents and
the occupied areas in this war are
virtually the same as in the last
war and wondered why the food re-
lief plans of 25 years ago are not
being followed now.
Mr.. Hoover said it is only diff
ference III the attitudes of govern
ment. and added that III his opinion
this war "tranScends the last war
only in brutality The alrplane. he
said. has brought war closer to civil
ian populations but has not changed
problem like that of food relief
Aid to France Urged.
Clarence E. Pickett. executive sec
retary Of the American Friends
Service Committee and as a member
of the Society of Friends, suggested
the resolution be broadened to in
clude France 1t already mentions
Belgium, Norway, Poland, the Meth
erlandS, Greece. YugOSlavla and
CzechosloVakia. He also declared he
does not believe lit viii be possible
to build stable peace if the price of
our victory is the destruction of the
innocent children Of Europe
Mr.. Hoover told the committee
that if the United States succeeds
in getting food to the occupied coun-
tries, we will prepare a reception
Tor our troops such as they could
not hope for if they move in later
to find starving populations
If the effort failed, America would
have discharged its moral obligation.
and even if Germany broke the
agreement by seizing the food, it
would not be of any major help to
the Germans, he argued.
Can't Win War by Blockade.
The defeat Of Germany is not
going to be accomplished by a food
blockade, but by other means" he
testified, adding, for that reason,
nothing is to be accomplished by
imposing the blockade on friendly
occupied lands.
MI, Hoover. food administrator
during the last war and chairman
from 1915 to 1919 Of the Belgian Re-
lief Commission. said he did not be-
lieve there could be any doubt that
starvation is fact in the occupied
countries.
L have no doubt either that re-
lief must be given" he added
He disclosed that food packages
for Allied prisoners in Germany are
being handled satisfactorily through
French ports. Loss through dam
ago and theft, he said, had amounted
to less than one-siXteenth of l per
cent.
Earlier Senator Taft said. There's
not much use in fighting to free
people if they're all going to be dead
before they get free"
The resolution mentions the need
for food in Belgium, Czechoslovakia,
Norway, Poland. Greece. Yugoslavia
and the Netherlands. Senator Taft
said it was probable that consider
able attention likewise would be de-
voted to France.
Primarily he added, the intention
Is to relieve the plight of hungry
children. Malnutrition affects them
more severely than adults.