Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 April 1919 — REDS MUST STOP THEIR WARFARE [ARTICLE]

REDS MUST STOP THEIR WARFARE

Big Four Replies to the Suggestions of'Doctor Nansen on Relief Measures. MANY RUSSIANS STARVING % Identic Letter I" Presented to i’resident Wilson and I‘remiera, OrInndo, (.Temencau and Lloyd George—Text of Their Reply. * Faria, April 18.—The reply of the '‘big four" relative to the suggestion of Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, that neutral nations be permitted to supervise the feeding of the starving people of Ruaaia was made public here. The primary condition of the co-operation of the allied powers is that Russia return to a basis of peace. The following letter has been addressed by Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian representative, to President Wilson and Premiers Clemenceau, Lloyd George and Orlando. "The present food situation in Russia. where hundreds of thousands of people sre dying monthly from sheer starvation and disease. Is one of ths problems now uppermost In all men’s minds. "As it appears that no solution of this food condition question has so far been reached In any delegation, T would like to make a suggestion from a neutral point of view for the benefit of thia gigantic misery, on purely humanitarian grounds. e Suggests Humanitarian Committee. "It would appear to me possible to ( organist* a purely humanitarian com-, mittee for the provisioning of Russia; the foodstuffs and medical supplies to be paid for, perhaps, to some extent, by Russian Itself, the Justice of distribution to be guaranteed by a committee ; the personnel of the commission to be comprised of Norwegian. Swedish, and possibly Dutch, Danish and Rwlss nationals. • "It does not appear that the existing authorities in Russia would refuse the Intervention of such a committee of wholly non-politlcal aspect, devoted solely to the humanitarian purpose of saving life. “If thus organized upon the lines of the Belgium relief commission, It would raise no question of political recognition or of negotiations between the allies with the existing authorities in Russia.

•‘I recognize keenly the large political Issues involved, and I would ba glad to know under what conditions the peace conference would approve such an enterprise and whether such a committee could look for real support in finance, shipping, food and medical supplies." The following reply was sent by President Wilson and she premiers: "The misery and suffering In Russia, described In your letter of April 8, appeals to the sympathies of all peoples. It Is shocking to humanity that millions of men and women and lack the food and nourishment which make life endurable. “The governments and peoples which we represent would be glad to co-op-erate, without thought of political, military or financial advantage, in any proposal which would relieve this situation in Russia. "It seems to us that such a committee as you propose would offer a practical means of acquiring the beneficent results you have in view and could not, either in its conception or its operation, be considered as having any other atm than the humanitarian purpose of saving life. “There are great. difficulties to be overcome, political difficulties respecting the existing situatiop in Russia and difficulties of supply and transport, but if the existing local governments of Russia are as willing as the governments and people whom we represent, to see succor and relief given to the stricken people of Russia, no political obstacle will remain. “There will remain, however, the difficulties of supply, finance and transport which we have mentioned, and also the problem of distribution in Russia itself. Transport la Problem. “The problems of transport In Russia and of distribution can be solved only by the people of Russia themselves. “The people in each locality should be given, as under the regime of the Belgian relief commission, the fullest opportunity to advise your commission upon the methods and the personnel by which their community is to be relieved. “That such a course would Involve the cessation of all hostilities within definite lines in the territory of Russia is obvious. And the cessation of hostilities would necessarily involve a

complete suspension of the transfer of troops and military material of all sorts to and within Russia’s territory. "Indeed, relief to Russia which did not mean a return to a state of peace would be futile and would be Impossible to consider. “Under such conditions as we have outlined, we are certain that your plan could be successfully carried into effect and we should be prepared to give it our full support. (Signed) "V. E. ORLANDO, “D. LLOYD GEORGE, “WOODROW WILSON, * “G. CLEMENCEAU." •