| Show mr hoovers message for world relief week again in lull confidence I 1 call upon the american people to set aside sunday december first and the week following tor the consideration of americas opportunity or renewed bervice and sacrifice last summer when the military situation was acute we assured the food conference in london that whatever the war food program of the allies required we were prepared to meet that the conference need not consider whether or not we had the supplies we were prepared to find them we pledged ourselves ours elvea by the voluntary economy of our people to have the reserves in food to supply all necessities the ending of war doea not release us from the i pledge the same population must be fed and until another season has passed they cannot teed themselves the change in the foreign situation necessarily alters the details of our food program because the tree ing of the seas from the submarine menace renders accessible the wheat supplies of india australia and the argentine the total tood demand upon the united states Is not diminished however on the contrary it is increased in addition to the supplying of those to whom we are already pledged we now have the splendid opportunity and obligation of meeting the needs of those millions of people in the hitherto occupied territories who are facing actual starvation the people of belgium northern france serbia rumania montenegro poland russia and armenia rely upon america tor immediate aid we must also participate in the preservation of the newly liberated nations in austria nor can we ignore the effect on the future world developments of a famine condition among these other people whom we have recently released from our enemies all these considerations erat ions mean tha upwards of two hundred million people in addition to those we already pledged to serve are now looking to us in their misery and famine our appeal today Is I 1 therefore larger than the cormer ap peal to the war conscience of our people the new appeal Is to the world conscience which must be the guiding inspiration of our future program the president 0 the united states has asked me to take charge for this government of this work to perfect and enlarge the arrangements for foodstuffs to the populations of belgium and franco now being released and to organize and determine the need of provision to the liberated people of southern europe to prevent such debacle es has taken place in russia the determining factor for the success of such an enlarged appeal will be the vivid consciousness in every individual in each community of obligation and opportunity it la that common recognition of obligation e now wish to create such an intelligent tell igent world conscience in the american people must be the main dependence of the stricken countries of the world until normal conditions are once more restored america by her participation in the war has accomplished her objectives of self defense and of vindicating the efficiency of a government in which the people and the people only are sovereign she has established the foundations of government by the people throughout the enemy countries and this Is the real bulwark of world peace we have yet to build on these foundations no government nor nation can stand if its people are starving we must do our part it the world be not consumed in a flame of anarchy the american people in this most critical period of ther history have the opportunity to demonstrate not only their ability to assist in establishing peace on earth but also their consecration by selden lal to the cause of suffering humanity HERBERT HOOVER |
