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Show MR. HOOVER'S .MESSAGE FOlf -v THE WORLD RELIEF WEEK. December 1, 1918, jAgoinjln.fullconfidpnco I'Coll upon tho American pcoplo to set aside Sun-dny, Sun-dny, Derembor 1, nnd the week following, fol-lowing, for tho consideration of America's Amer-ica's opportunity for renewed servlco nnd sacrifice. Last summer when tho military situation sit-uation was acuta wo assured tho interallied in-terallied food conference in London that whutcvor tho wnr food program of the allies required we were prepared pre-pared to meet; that tho conference need not consider whether or not we had the supplies wo wero prepared to find them; we pledged ourselves by tho voluntnry economy of our pcoplo pco-plo to have the reserves in food to supply nil necessities. Tho ending of the war docs not release us from the pledge. Tho snmo population must bo fed and until another season has passed they cannot feed themselves. Tho chnngo in the foreign situation ncccssnrily alters tho details of our food program, because tho freeing of tho seas from the submarine mennco renders acccssiblo tho wheat supplies of India, Australia nnd the Argentine. Tho total food demand upon the United Unit-ed States is not diminished, however. On tho contrary it is increased. In addition to tho supplying of those to whom wo are already pledged, wo now havo the splendid opportunity nnd obligation of meeting tho needs of those millions of people in the hitherto occuoied territories who aro facing actual starvation. Tho people of Belgium, Northern France, Serbia, Rumanin, Montenegro, Poland, Russia nnd Armenia rely upon America for immediate aid. Wo must also participate partici-pate in tho preservation of tho newly liberated nations in Austria; nor can wo ignoro the effect on the future world developments of n famine condition condi-tion among these other peoplo whom wo have recently released from our enemies. All these considerations mean that upwards of two hundred million peoplo in addition, to those wo already al-ready pledged to servo aro now looking look-ing to us in their misery and famine. Our appeal today is therefore larger than tho former appeal to the "war conscience" of our people. Tho new appeal is to tho "world conscience," which must be the guiding inspiration of our future program. Tho president of tho United States hns asked me to take charge for this government of this work; to perfect and onlargo tho arrangements for foodstuffs to the populations of Belgium Bel-gium nnd Franco now being released and to organize and determino tho neoU of provision to the liberated peoploof Southern Europo to prevent such debacle as has taken place In Russia. The determining factor for the sue-cess sue-cess of such an enlarged appeal will be the vivid consciousness in every individual in each community of obli- gation and opportunity. It is that common recognition of obligation that wo now wish to create. Such an in- tclligent "world conscience" in the American peoplo must be the main j dependenco of the stricken countries -JM of tho world until normal condl-tions condl-tions ore onco more restored, America by her participation in tho ;H war has accomplished her objectives of self-defense nnd of vindicating tho efficiency of a government In which H tho peoplo and tho people only are sovereign. Sho has established the tH foundations of government by tho people throughout tho enemy coun- tries, and this is tho real bulwark of H world peaco. Wo havo yet to build H on theso foundations. No feovern- ment nor nation can stand if its peo-plo peo-plo aro starving. Wo must do our part if tho world be not consumed in n flame of anarchy. The American people in this most critical period of their hlstory havo H the opportunity to demonstrate' not. jH only their ability to assist in cstab-lishlng cstab-lishlng peace on earth, but also their consecration by self-denial to tho cause of suffering humanity." HERBERT, HQQVWC H |