under what conditions you would approve such an enterprise and whether such commission could look for actual support in finance, shipping, and food and medical supplies from the United States Government.

     I am addressing a similar note to Messrs. Orlando,
     Clemenceau, and Lloyd George.  Believe me, my dear Mr.
     President,

     Yours, most respectfully,

     FRIDJOF NANSEN.

     His Excellency the PRESIDENT,
     II Place des Etats-Unis, Paris.

Senator KNOX, I think that was published in nearly all the papers.

Mr. BULLITT.  Yes.  In it he proposed that a commission should be formed at once for the feeding of Russia, because of the frightful conditions of starvation and so on.  Col.  House decided that it would be an easier way to peace if we could get there via the feeding plan, under the guise of a purely humanitarian plan, if we could slide in that way instead of by a direct, outright statement inviting these people to sit down and make peace.  Therefore he asked me to prepare a reply to the Nansen letter, which I have here.

     PARIS, FRANCE, April 4, 1919.  Suggested reply to Dr.
     Nansen by the President of the United States and the
     premiers of France, Great Britain, and Italy: 

DEAR MR. NANSEN:  It is the earnest desire of the allied and associated Governments, and of the peoples for whom they speak, to assuage the distress of the millions of men, women, and children who are suffering in Russia.  The associated powers have solemnly pledged their resources to relieve the stricken regions of Europe.  Their efforts, begun in Belgium and in Northern France during the course of the war, now extend to exhausted peoples from Finland to the Dalmatian coast.  Ports long idle are busy again.  Trainloads of food are moved into the interior and there are distributed with an impartial hand.  Industry is awakened, and life is resumed at the point where it was broken off by war.  These measures of relief will be continued until nations are once more able to provide for their needs through the normal channels of commerce.

The associated peoples desire and deem it their duty similarly to assist in relieving the people of Russia from the misery, famine, and disease which oppress them.  In view of the responsibilities which have already been undertaken by the associated Governments they welcome the suggestion that the neutral States should take the initiative in the matter of Russian relief and, therefore, are prepared to state in accordance with your request, the conditions under which they will approve and assist a neutral commission for the provisioning of Russia.

The allied and associated Governments and all Governments now exercising political authority within the territory of the former Russian Empire, including Finland, together with Poland, Galicia, Roumania, Armenia, Azerbaidjan, and Afghanistan,