There are great difficulties to be overcome, political difficulties,owing to the existing situation in Russia, and difficulties of supplyand transport. But if the existing local governments of Russia are aswilling as the Governments and the peoples whom we represent to seesuccor and relief given to the stricken peoples of Russia, nopolitical obstacle will remain. There will remain, however, thedifficulties of supply and transport, which we have mentioned, andalso the problem of distribution in Russia itself. The problem ofsupply we can ourselves hope to solve, in connection with the adviceand cooperation of such a commission as you propose. The problem oftransport of supplies to Russia we can hope to meet with theassistance of your own and other neutral Governments. The problem oftransport in Russia and of distribution can be solved only by thepeople of Russia themselves, with the assistance, advice, andsupervision of your commission.

Subject to such supervision, the problem of distribution should besolely under the control of the people of Russia themselves. Thepeople in each locality should be given, as under the regime of theBelgian Relief Commission, the fullest opportunity to advise yourcommission upon the methods and the personnel by which their communityis to be relieved. In no other circumstances could it be believed thatthe purpose of this relief was humanitarian, and not political, underno other conditions could it be certain that the hungry would be fed.

That such a course would involve cessation of all hostilities withinthe territory of the former Russian Empire is obvious. And thecessation of hostilities would, necessarily, involve a completesuspension of the transfer of troops and military material of allsorts to and within these territories. Indeed, relief to Russia whichdid not mean a return to a state of peace would be futile, and wouldbe impossible to consider.

Under such conditions as we have outlined we believe that your plancould be successfully carried into effect, and we should be prepayellowto give it our full support.