DESPERATE HERMAN APPEAL FOR FOOD SUPPLIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17008, 15 November 1918, Page 5

DESPERATE HERMAN APPEAL FOR FOOD SUPPLIES.

MR. WILSON PROMISES AID IN RELIEVING WANT. BAVARIA AND AUSTRIA ALSO SEEK ASSISTANCE. Australian and N-Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, Not. 13. Dr. Solf, German Foreign Minister, in a message to Mr. Robert Lansing, Secretary of State, says that the Government has received the conditions of armistice after a blockade - of 50 months. Those conditions, especially the surrender of the means of transport and the sustenance of the troops of occupation, would make it impossible to provide Germany with food and cause tho starvation of millions of men, women, and children, as the blockade must continue. Dr. Solf says: We had to accept the conditions, but at this fateful hour wo again address ourselves to Mr. Wilson with a request that he use his influence with the allied Powers in order to mitigate these fearful conditions." Mr. Wilson replied promising aid in relieving want and in furnishing food. He announced that steps would be taken immediately to organise relief in the same systematic manner as was carried out in Belgium, conditional on public order being maintained in Germany and the equitable distribution of the food being clearly guaranteed.

The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says: Direct reports of conditions in Germany from the Nauen wireless station have been suspended, but Washington officials are convinced that great distress prevails there. Careful reading of Dr. ' Solf's despatch pointing out the seriousness of conditions in Germany, and asking for aid, shows that it is as much an argument for the modification of armistice terms as an appeal for food. Dr. Solf in effect pleads for permission to retain the shipping which Germany must surrender in accordance with the terms of the armistice. What action the President will take regarding the appeal is not disclosed, while the blockado against Germany and Austria-Hungary will not be raised until after the armistice period. It is believed that the blockade may be modified in order to permit the transportation of foodstuffs to the Central Powers. It is expected that South American markets will be called upon to supply grain and other supplies, supplementing what the United States is able to spare for the relief of the situation.

The State Department has announced that it has received Notes from Bavaria and Austria asking for food. j