Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Proposed American Body of 15 to Direct Relief on World War Lines

February 20, 1940
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

The Commission for Polish Relief today was still awaiting an official answer to a proposal submitted to the German Government on Jan. 7 for organization of relief in Poland on World War lines, with 15 Americans setting up a non-sectarian distribution system and the Germans giving safe conduct to relief ships and waiving tariffs.

Presentation of the proposal was disclosed yesterday by Herbert Hoover, member of the commission’s executive committee, who said that if the permission was granted the commission pledged itself to seek funds for the supplies, transport the supplies to ports of entry and see to their distribution. He estimated that at least $20,000,000 would be necessary to ward off starvation in the Government-General of Poland until the next harvest.

Acceptance by the German Government of the commission’s plan is the one hope of life for hundreds of thousands of innocent victims of the war, Hoover said. The Allied blockade control has refused to permit relief supplies to go to Poland without guarantees of American supervision to preclude diversion of the supplies by the Nazis.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement