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?exs&? JtUtcilb ^ NO. r>377 ' ::u? }'.&? w^?r"o. mD'uc. WASHINGTON. A). C., TUESDAY^ JULY 20. 19l?1 -SIXTEEN PAGES ONE U.S. EXPECTS. I JAP "YES" ON PARLEY TODAY State Department Feels Hopeful Reply Will Be Favorable. "HOME POLITICS" ' SEEN AS DANGER Experts Say Envoys May "Play to Galleries" in Own Lands. A communication from Japan, accepting: the President's invitation: to an armament-Far Eastern conference. is expected at the State Department today. This declaration, uttered officially, was accompanied by announcement that Secretary Hughes had sent Japan an outline of this government's view on the scope of the conference. The Japanese are said to have regarded it as a formal reply to their inquiry on the prob-1 able subjects which the meeting would discuss. Denby Waits Wamhlpn. America will proceed with her construction of warships authorized | by Congress, despite the armament conference, it was announced yesterday by Secretary Denby. The I Secretary pointed out that this! country could not hold up its con-1 struction program pending-the conclusion of an effective agreement to limit armament. Denby also announced he would submit a supplemental budget to Congress asking authorisation for two airplane carriers. The original I request for an aircraft carrier was rejected. The bombing tests, Denby said, had demonstrated the necessity for ships that could carry airplanes at sea. The administration should 'delay funding debts of foreign governments until after the impending con ference, Senator Borah, of Idaho. said on the floor of the Senate yesterday. Use It mm "Pewiadfr." "If the debt is left subject to call," said Borah, "as emergencies arise and conditions suggest, it is my opinion that it will play an important part in all the proceedings and in molding the final conclusion of the conference.* For example. should some of the deliberating nations *how a reluctance to enter whole-heartedly into the liscuasions. this government would feel justified in insisting on a prompt payment of its debts." Meantime, Borah Insisted, this government should demand immediate payment of overdue interest, which amounts to $1,000,000,000. and is growing at the rate of $1,000,000 daily. He declared there is no reason why it should not be paid, and called attention to the fact that Great Britain is spending $2,000,000,000 yearly on her army and navy. while France maintains all army of 800,000. The American taxpayer, Borah said, is thus made to bear not only this government's burdens. but also to finance the armament plans of France and England. Borah said France is the "most thoroughly militaristic nation on arth." He criticized the administration funding bill as an attempt to have Congress abdicate authority. charging that international bankers with private claims are behind the proposal, and said that foreign governments have not given up the idea that the debts may be ' cancelled. MHo?r Politic*" Factor. "Home polities'* are going to play a tremendous part in the forthcoming conference, it now appears Every statesman will come to Washington with domestic troubles behind him. fpon his work in 1 Washington he will stake his po- ' sition at home, either coiYfcolidatin*; his power in the nationalistic eye* of his countrymen, or lending himself to attack, possibly overthrow. by the mistakes which his enemies discover. Diplomatic observers here fear these "home politics" may develop into the most difficult problem 1 of the cominp negotiations. Lloyd George Is engaged in a bitter political feud with Lord VorthcUITe, head of the powerful N'orthcliffe press. IJoyd George, It is pointed out. must return to Lon- 1 don with something to which he i ran win the plaudits of the British Public and protect himself from w, ? 8 attacks The redoubtable Welshman also must bear in rnind th? domestic demand that England retain her mastery of the seas and must reconcile the divergent views that exist among the dominions "'"'"nr In Franc P*"" by * , 'r thread, with 1 Tlriand , position tMur threaten.* constantly by the militaristic clioue ' 1?*r h "nd Po'ncare. Th. ' militarists Insist on no weakening ( of France , polio toward German* 1 hot Enrland and the United Stat.* 1 ?re ooooi.d to further m'litary 1 demonstration*, fearlnir the liberal s i.erman aorernment may fall h?. ' fore reactionaries If French press- 8 L* V Rrland Is ae- ? ?nd*It wm hM,nr l> r'IOyd C"?rr' and It will be ?o to him to "make ?r t>r?ak in Washington. *? Japan. In Japan a -militaristic party is clamoring: for control and opposing d seuaalon of Far Eastern and pieiflc problems for fear It m*v weaken Japan s strong hold in Asia So Japanese diplomats also will fac. * serious situation The Italian ministrv fa ^Vp'ro-p^ 1 n'aly. ut President Harding will hay. ? tr.m.ndous stake In the proceed- I say that th. ' no?- observer. *?v. that the armament conform*.constitute, fh. Hul?e. a'S" P?'icy instructed by % Cr'es for Sight F Alow * Colored' Story of Remedy Hope of Blind Shattered When Truth About Serum Is Told. NEW YORK, Jul? 28.?Tkc mistaken enthusiasm of n friend of Dr. Rrasmus Arlington Pond hns Inflicted a ernel disappointment on many people blind fram atrophy- of the optic nerve. Inaccurate reports concerning nn unperfected serum on which the doctor has bfen working; mndc them hope they could he made to see again, but th? serum, the doctor nnnounces, even In perfection would not be capable of restoring sight to eyes quite blind. Only those whose eyes are still able to perceive general outlines, at least of objects held close, need hope for relief. A friend had spread reports of the serum broadcast, whereas Dr. Pond Intended to say nothing publicly until he was sure whether his serum was a success. He has been using It for severnl years and has bad some success In reviving the optic nerve In cases where atrophy has been only pnrtlal. Dr. Poad suid his mail In full every day of pitiful appeals from the blind, young and old. HARDING TO URGE CREDIT BE GIVEN FARM AND ROADS President's Message Today Will Outline His Credit Plan. President Harding's message to j Congress today. It Is learned, will | |outline the policies which the ad-' ministration hopes to extend aid to [the railroads and the farming in- i jdustry. It Is expected also to discuss proposals for the extension of credits to facilitate exports. The War Finance Corporation | would be the agency through which 1 the administration's program would j be carried out. Its powers would ; be broadened to enable it to handle \ bonds of the railroads, and make \ greater credits available for farm- j Ing and exporting. Legislation j woud be required for this. Indorsed by Cabinet. ^Relief of the plight of agriculture j and the railroads, and the export I of surplus commodities, are con- i sidered by the administration. 1 Linked with it is the revision of tax I lawa and imposition of higher i tariffs, enforcement of economies. : and funding of both the domestic ! and foreign debts. The proposals the President will i incorporate in his message have the indorsement of Secretary of the I Treasury Mellon, Secretary of Commerce Hoover, and Eugene Meyer, jr.. director of the War Finance Corporation. They have be^n the sub- | ject of much discussion. Roads Would Give Notes. The project for railroad financing j is that when the government made j payments to the railroads, the roads ! would give the government 6 per i cent 10-year notes in exchange. ; The notes would be taken by the i War Finance Corporation. The proposal to assist agriculture, j involves sidetracking the Norris bill, I which would create a $1,000,000 farm export corporation. It is proposed J to have this business transacted i through the War Finance Corporation. _ Already Drawn In Dill. A bill has been drawn to carry i?ut these ideas, and its introduction is expected to follow delivery of the President's message. Senator Curtis, Republican whip, discussed the program with President Harding at the White House yesterday, and is understood to have suggested the wisdom of treating railroads and farming separately. Opposition is expected from Senators representing farming States to linking the two. FORD MUST CHANGE POWER PLANT OFFER Henry Ford's offer to relieve the government of the nitrate and power j plant at Muscle Shoals, Ala., must | be modified before it can be accepted, j Secretary Weeks has decided. Mr. Ford asked that the government guarantee equipment which would generate 600,000 horse-power. The government will decline to | make any guarantees, Mr. Weeks j said. "Suggestion of another bid has been received by the War Department," Mr. Weeks said. "In the meantime Secretary Mellon is preparing a report on Mr. Ford's offer. We will not act in a hurry." Sues for Son's Injuries. John E. Gucchiara ,on behalf of lis 2-year-old son, Samuel, filed suit yesterday In the District Supreme Court against I^ouise W. Daugherty, )wner of the Louise Flower Shop on Connecticut avenue, for $5,000 damiges for alleged personal Injuries to | he boy. Through Atty. Mason N. Richardson, Gucchiara claims that 1 Samuel was struck by an automo- J >ile owned by the flower shop at Seventh and K streets northwest 1 md seriously injured. FEATURES IN J THE HERALD ! Today will be found as Indl- 1 cated below: I Editorial page 4 i Society Page 5 ' Sports Pages 6-7 1 The Weather Page 8 t Business Pages 10-11 t The Gumps..V Page 16 t Borrowed Husbands. .Page 16 j Four Pages of Classified r Ads In Second Section. e != M ? < SEESlO-CENTx I FARE IF LINES GAIN DESIRES I W. McK. Clayton Warns Of Depreciation Fund Raise Danger. SCOUTS COMPANIES' CLAIMS OF NEED Says Gas Company Rates Show How Public Would Pay Toll. Street car fares would probably I be Increased to 19 cent* In a short jtime If the traction companies are i allowed to increase ?hfir deprecia! Hon funds to the extent they desire. 1 William McK. Clayton declared yesterday after the public* utilities hea/ings. "The Capital Traction Company. with over *1,000,000 now in Its maintenance fund, a surplus of $700,000, its tracks, buildings, cars and other properties in first class condition, needs a depreciation fund about as badly as a ?:0 gold piece." Clayton declared. Mr. Clayton also took exception to the statement of Osborn I. YelI lott, attorney for the Washingon Railway and Electric Company, that , | depreciation is an operating ex- | pense that must be borne by the I public and that rates of deprecia- j tion must be sufficient to establish j funds for replacement of property. change of Color. "When rates, tolls and charges of public, utilities were fixed by Congress and utilities had to get along I ( under the provisions set forth by j ' that body, depreciation funds, when | they came into conflict with divl- j dends. apparently went Into the dis- j card." Clayton argued, "but with | the adven* of a commission form of I control with -the fares and tolls fix- i able and the people supplying the j i funds for depreciation, a noticeable] t affinity for depreciation funds was. t developed among the utilities companies. "Permit these corporations to c expand their depreciation funds to i the limit reouested and it is reason- 1 able to expec* that car fares would t easllv reach 10 cents within a very short space of time," Clayton pre- i dieted. j * Result of Rates. 'When the counsel for the Wash- j inerton Gas Light Company admit-! f ted that his company was not in j ? need of a depreciation fund, formal- ^ ly because Congress gave it ample ^ rates he could have continued by n explaining that the rates provided f by Congress also enabled the gas company to pav a 24 per cent dividend annually for years, on Its t stock and permitted it to accumu- j late over J5.000.000 in its surplus funds. "Now. tl the public can be per-1 suaded to-set up a depreciation -t fund for it the Gas I.ight Company ] <1 should certainly have no reason to ! t' complain. . * ' It was planned to discuss the \ question of depredation funds at k a ioint meeting of the utilities | companies whose representatives in ? accordance with the programs ap- [ s peared before the Public Utilities j r Commission yesterday. The com- j 8 mission however, has decided that t0 the case of each company shall bi j ? taken up seperately and today, tomorrow and Thursday have been ? designated as the days for the hearings. Views of Expert*. Albert K. Berry, president of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Comwinv. told the commission that the maintenance of a depreciation . fund for his company was provided ^ by the Interstate Commerce Commission owing to its interstate * status. ^ The quotion of a uniform regula- p tion governing depreciation funds K was obiected to bv John H. Hanna, vice president of the Capital Trac- e, tion Company, who argued ?hat the different character of service rcn- 0 dered by the companies made a g practical application ot such a sys- n tem impossible. ? n The Public Utilities Commission e, will take up the depreciation rates t] of the traction companies this el morning. Tomorrow the gas companies will be heard and Thursday ? has been set to hear discussions of ? depreciation rates for the telephone v company and the tajjicab companies. , ( 7-Cent Fare, 10-Cent Light Rale, Demand of Civic Union '"Seven-cent car fare with uniform a, rates and a 10-cent electric light ^ rate" Is the recommendation of the o1 Joint committee of commercial and p, civic organizations on street rail- p ways of the District determined A upon at a meeting yesterday after- 8i noon in the assembly room of the Merchants and Manufacturers* As- p} sociation. - b< The resolution, in the form of a lc petition to the Public Utilities m " ommlsfeion. was transmitted to the a| Commission immediately following; a, the meeting: by Charles J. Columbus, secretary of the ioint committee. m Text of Resolution. a^ The resolution follows: 'I m "Whereas, there is a general de- sl dre that the street railways of the district of Columbia shall render w he fullest possible measure of pub- ar ic service and an equal desire for i lower rate of carfare and a mininum electric light rate consistent vith such service. "Therefore, be it resolved that we, he members of the joint committee >f commercial and civic organiz^- re ions on street railways of the Dis- it< rict of Columbia, comprising the lo Soard of Trade, Chamber of Com- er nerce. Merchants and Manufactur- gi rs' Association and the City Club, hi gf CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE. m x **35./ - ' ' L inerMauretania Swept By Flames At British Dock Big Cunarder Will Be Out Of Commission for Several Months. (Spaeial Cable to The Washier ton Kara Id and Chicago Tribuie.) SOUTHAMPTON, July SS.?A disastrous fire broke out the Cunard liner Maurttaila in Soathaaptaa docks ^hia afternoon. daiaf mack damage and necessitating lafiag the nhlp up for several months to repair It. It Is believed the Are started nhea a Workman dropped a lighted cigarette on a floor where gasoline had been spilled. The flames, fanned by a strong draft, spread quickly into the first-class diniuir loon and on into the state rooms. Firemen were called and donned smoke helmets to force their way into the interior of the ship, but were driven back by the fierce heat and falling timbers. Finally they slung stages over the side of the vessel nnd directed water thri^gh . the port holes, while fire boats pumped water lato the blaalng ship. suddenly the ship listed because of the huge volume of water pumped into her. and operations had to be stopped untll the pumps were started. Finally she righted herself, but the firemen could not enter the lower decks for five hours. At 10 o'clock the fire was under control, but dense clouds of smoke were Issuing from the vessel, and it was foared the fire may break out again. (Copyright 1921.) GORGEOUS ROBES ATTRACT CROWD TO WHITE HOUSE _ Spectators Gasp at the Princess' Oriental Splendor. A motor car sped up to the front | mortals of the White House. Outj ?tepped a slender swarthy gentlerian in modish cutaway coat and ! illk topper. Then followed three ther men. two wearing black, voolly astrakhan caps, the third laving his head wrapped in a heavy urban. And then appeared ^ gorgeous tot of color?all the colors of the Cast enveloping a representative of eminine royalty, such aa even Washington seldom sees. It was1 he Princess Fatima. sister of the eigning ruler of Afghanistan and iultana of Kabul. In the entourage vere her three sons Prince Mohamned Hashm Khan, Prince Mohamied Azam Khan, Prince Mohammed ickbar Khan and the crown prince f Egypt, Prince Zerdechenois. It was yesterday afterpoon, and hey were paying a call upon the 'resident of the United States. Outside and Inside. 11 What occurred inside the White louse, in the chat between Presi- j lent Harding and the five royal poentates, has not been recorded for tublic consumption. What occurred outside is better nown. 1 Tourists wandering about the rrounds of the Executive Mansion pied the pageantry and literally an to the White House door for a rlimpso of Fatima herself. The rowd, small when she entered, had :rown measurably twenty minutes | iter when she departed, the word f her visit having spread quickly. , amera men and movie operators , warmed the portecochere. And the princess?she was glo- , ious! Eastern Skirt, But Short. Tn the right side of her nose, just ft the nostril, she wore her disInguishing mark, a black sapphire, 'opping her jet black hair was a reen ostrich feather, but this was ro*.vned with a flowing green veil, ! otted with gold. The veil only artly covered the pink gown with old brocade The gown barely | tached the knees, thus giving the ffect of an Oriental palace robe dapted to meet the modern vogue f the West. The princess wore r?*en silk hose, amply filled. Gold ledallions, dangling from her neck, j latched in brilliance the drooping ar rings. Gold was used again in j he ova' buckles on the black pat- j nt leather shoes. The princess posed fo.- the movie j len when she departed. And the1 lovie men cranked furiously, not ritti their usual poise. Jompers Pledges Labor To Disarmament Plan President Harding's proposed disrmament conference "strikes a iost responsive chord in the hear* f labor," according to Sampel Gomers, president of the American ederation of Labor. Writing in the merican Federationist, Gompers lid: "The labor movement is not &cifist as that term has come to s understood, but it is committed the cause of peace. The labor ovement is in favor of movements id policies that will beget peace id it is opposed to movements and >licies that lead to war and that ake war ~easy and all too often mailable. . . . The trade union ovement of America hopes for the iccess of the conference." Gompers declared "toilers everyhere bear the burden of great mament." tolshevik Agents Steal Monarchists? War Plans BERLIN, July 25.?Seven appantly Bolshevik agents, who vis;d the home of Col. Van Freyber^, < cal representative of Gen. Kemleflf, anti-Bolshevik leader, in the lise of detectives and confiscated s papers, secured information of -eat value to the Lenin governen L i | HORA ENGLAND TO SEEK DEBT SETTLEMENT AND U. S^ALLIANCE The Empire's Financial Status Improved Greatly During Year. (SpecUl Cable to The Wufciagtas Her*Id and United N-*w*.) By A. E. JOHNSON. LONDON. Joty 25.?Using the j Harding disarmament conference as a screen. Great Britain, it is intimated. will conduct, either simulta- ] neously or before the conference, a discussion with the Washington! government on two subjects which j she considers vital to her own in- | terests. They are adjustments of I the economic relations between the i two countries and the establishment of an English-speaking agreement tantamount to an yAnglo-American alliance. _ , , It is intimated in official circles that Uovd Georges delegation to Washington will be accompanied by financial experts to clear up the uncertainties relating to the funding of Great Brialns debt to America. ?nd reaching a basis whereby this loan, now amounting to J4,098,000,000. may be liquidated. Sltnatloa Grows Better. According to statistics gathered from authoritative sources. Great Britain's financial position is immeasurably better than is generally believed. On March 31. 1919, het debt was approximately five and a half billion dollars, calculated upon the exchequer's arbitrarily fixed exchange rate of $4 to the pound. Todav It is approximately four and i half billion dollars, which is almos* entirely owing to America. Since the signing of the armistice^ therefore, the empire has paid to jpproximately a billion and.a.*ia]f n debts, wiping out her indebtedness to Japan, Argentine. Uruguay, Holland. Switzerland and Norway. These bills have eit'n?r been raid >ff or cancelled. The remaining ?S.250.000 due to Sweden will be paid before August 1. according to offl;ials of the Treasury Department. External Debt Decreases. Great Britain's external debt de-reas'd $344,544,000 during the fls*al year ending March II. 19J0 and M6R.604.000 in the year eJldin5 klarch 31. 1921. And It is predicted hat by January 1, 1922, America will be* th* empire's only creditor. At the same time America s claim ror more than four billion dollars is a staggering sum. both In the principal and interest it Is piling jp. Furthermore, it is payable on Jemand. \ large portion of the sum oorrowed from America was reloaned Lo other European countries at ilgher rates of Interest, although Lhe securities In many eases, such is those ?f Greece and thg Balkan States, are for the time being absoutely worthless. Helped By Strike. -It is understood that the British economic experts will endeavor to >ersuade America to accept transference of these obligations to her- j lelfy thereby lessening Great Brititn's responsibility for ttietr colection. I It Is pointed out, speaking of England's, international economics hat contrary to expectations, the reneral coal strike has proved i ather a blessing to the country's c inances. fbr It started an unprece- I lented wave of wage reduction. Millions of dollars have been saved. ] ompetltion in export trailing has i >een revived and all industries have i >een reorganised along sounder 1 lnes. England is getting onto herli eet industrially once mora. li TIUS HOLDS THE B1 GERMANY AGREES TO PROCLAMATION Approves Suggested Move By Harding Toward Peace. ftpeeiil Call' to Tka Wukmlit EiriU tad Chi car? Trlbmn* ) BERLIN, July IS.?The German f?TfriiMfRt kaa acreH thst President !Urtli? Inane an official proclamatloa of peace between the tailed Mates and Germany. Pourparlera betweea the Amerlenn ronmlwloner, I.orIng Dreael, and the Germaa foreign minister. Dr. Roaeu, bnve now ended, all tke Amfrlcaa ?ne?tlonx bavin* been nnawered. Ike eblef of nkirh concerned Germnny'a view #f wbat legal action would be neceaaary to make the Porter-Knsx reaolutlon elective. Germany replied that a PreaIdeatlal proclamation would be the moat neceptnble Immediate action nnder which It would be poaalble for ambaaaadora to be named and formation of a peace treaty be*na. Germaay la ?ald to have beea aihed to five certain anawera regardlag t?e form and csntcnta of auch a Prealdeytlal proclamation nnd theae have been aent to Waahlagtoa. In oBclal clrelea the oplalon pre valla that the American treaty probably will repeat a majority ot the Versailles tresty provisions. Copyright 1OTI ) IRISHPEACENEAR, FEINERS DECLARE ' Official Statement of Dail Eireann Stirs Erin to Heights of Optimism. (Special Cable to The Waa&'.afftan Ha mid . and United Newt.) ] DUBLIN. July 25.?In an official . declaration issued tonight?perhaps j the most significant announcement ever made either by Irish Repub- | lican chiefs or British leaders?Sinn , Fein declares Its belief that an Irish peace will be reached. The official statement call, on all Irishmen to obey the influence of a common citizenship, and virtually pledges that there shall be "no forcible coercion of Ulster to Irish rule." The announcement, received t>y a i tense public at the conclusion of a day of conferences between j Eamoiin de Valera and his colleagues of the Dail Eireann. is viewed as the. most striking declaration of the Sinn Fein attitude towards T.loyd Georce's peace proposals yet made, and has infused the entire South ot Ireland with the most enthusiastic optimism since the parleys began. Elephants $3.34 an Inch And Kids Can't Have One CHICAGO. July 26.?Elephants opened strong today and showed a tendency to be bullish. Pachyderms are quoted at *3.34 per square inch, leopards are up and Indian blcterongs are quoted at $5,000 f. o. b. San Francisco. For these excellent reasons the Lincoln Park Zoo will get none of the cargo which recently arrived In San Francisco. Prior to the war elephants could be purchased at U.?7 the square inch, or about 11,500 for a medium-sized elephant. Now they are quoted at $3 000 and upwards?mostly upwards. Leopards that sold for *400 each before the war are now quoted at $1,200 and snakes that were offered at $500 low cost $1,500 and mora RIDGE t^r_ I By J. N. DARLING. ARREST OF SMALL APT TO BE TRIED BY SHERIFF TODAY I Governor Thought Likelj To Reply With Martial Law. ? I SPRINGFIELD. 111.. July 25.?Belief was expressed here tonight thai j an attempt to arrest Governor Ler I Small would be made tomorrow by Sheriff Henry Mester. The governor was indicted last week on charges of conspiracy ani ! embezzlement of public funds while | he was State treasurer. | At ? o'clock tomorrow mornm? 'judge E. N. Smith mill rule on tf? contention of the governor's attorI neys that Small, as head of the executive department of the State, is I immune from arrest. The court inIdicated that the governor, like any j other citizen, must bow to the court in criminal proceedings. May Proclaim Martial Law. Instructions from Judge Smith ' that the capiases be served wout?. j seem to leave no choice to Sheriff Mester but to place the governor In custody. Governor Small has indicated that he would not submit to arrest. The only course left open to him to prevent his arrest, in the event the capiases are ordered served, woutc be for him to call the State militia and declare Springfield under marjtial law. Sheriff Mester*a office Is on tne qui vlve. and it is believed that the sheriff is preparing to organize a posse to aid him in arresting the governor. Latest word as to the governor's intentions is that he still adheres to his original position that his oath of office would not countenance his ^submission of the executive authority to the Judicial. Three Plana f?r Gaveraar. Three plans have been suggested as outlining the probable course of the executive. They are: First, to refuse Sheriff Mester admittance to cither th? executive office or the executive mansion, should he attempt to serve the warrants. Second, to rail on the local units of the State militia and Issue orders to prevent the arrest. Third, to let the sheriff come to th<r executive offices and meet him at the door with a declaration of martial law. In such an event the sheriff's power wouia cease instantly and the ftate would take over direction of both the police and sheriff's offices, it is claimed It seems certain tonight that Judge Smith will rule that the criminal code Is not to be impended In the case of the governor. In this event the writs will be turned over to the sheriff, who will attempt to call the governor on the telephone and nottry him his presence is desired in court. If the governor goes into court and gives bond, there will be no civil trouble, but if he declines, no one can foresee where the end of the problem will be. Ex-Envoy's Wife Buried. OWEOO, N. T., July 2o?Fun?r?l services for Mrs. Helene Bakhmeteff. wife of Boris Bakemeteff. the last recognised Russian ambassador to the United States, who died very suddenly here Saturday morning. were held privately at the home Sunday afternoon- The body will be placed In a receiving vault until the arrival of Bakmeteff from San Francisco. I HARDING ACTS ON REPORT OF DIXIE FAMINE Asks Immediate Probe <lf Conditions in Cotton Belt. . PLEDGES U. S. AID IF AS REPORTED Stirred by Stories of Pellagra Plague as Crops Fail. President Hardin* ha* asked the United State* Public Health Sarnie* and the American Ited Crom te make an immediate Isveftiflttai of reports that condition? spreoach ins famine eiM i" ***** i% the cotton States of the South. "Immediate and effective measures of amelioration are manifestly demanded if conditions even approximate the gravity suggested by th? Public Health report" said the President in a letter to Surge** Gen. Hugh S <*umraings. "It te unthinkable that we should delay for a single day the institution ef such measures. A>ka for *a*ne???e?a. "Therefore. 1 sm writing to aafc you for the most complete possible report that can be msde at once-? provided there is anything to add j to what you have already made publie?and especially for suggestion of proper measures to desl with the I situation.*' Attention was directed to conditions in the South in a public statement of the Health Service last meek that ??e*au*? or inadequate and improper food. 1*0.000 person* in the cotton belt this year would become afflicted with pellagra, af I whom 10.000 would die. The President made known his willingness to recommend to Congress sny legislative action that ] might be nee<led and pledged the (0ill use of denartm? ntal machinery, as well a* his personal co-operation. The President's letter ta Oen Cummings said: "I have been greatly concerned to note the public statement from , the Public Health Service as to the menace of pellagra and conditions of at least semi-fsmine in a large section of the cotton belt. That such a condition is ' hviouely a temporary incident to the econenre j dislocation following the war cannot lessen our concern. Famine and plague are words almost foreign to our American vo<ahulary. save a* , we have learned their meaning In | connection with the afflictions or { lsnds less favored, and toward which our people have so many times displayed large and generous | charity. better te Red frem. To*. "Immediate and effective measj ures of smeliorstion are manifestly demsnded If conditions even an' proximate the gravity suggested by | the Public Health report. It Is unthinksble that we should delay for a single day the institution of such ' measures. Therefore I am writing to ask you for the most complete : possible report that can be made at once?provided there is anything to add to what you have aJready made public?and especially for suggestion of proper meaaures to deal with the aituation. "I am also writing to Dr. Livingston Farrand. head of the American Red Cross. in the same tenor, and suggesting that co-operation l?? tween his organization and your own might be helrful; having in mind the need for haste in making a full survey, and in planning relief measures I wish you l?oth to %e assured of my co-operation and of all aid that can appropriately be given through the executive departments. and to know that if full information about the situation shall ! make apparent that legislative action is necessary. 1 will on a proper showing be prepared to ask the requisite authorisation from the Congress." The President wrote ss follows to Dr. Livingston F*rrand. chairman of the central committee, American Red Cross: Recent reports of a distressing condition among the rural population in a large section of the cotton belt, are confirmed by a public statement from the Public Health Service. They Indicate that, due to the depressed cotton market, many thousands of people are unable to sell their one product for money wherewith to buy a neceeaary variety of wholesome food, and that there is a grsve threat of an epidemic of pellagra. Give It lttgbt \Mie." "It must bring a shock to the American people to realise that a great section of their own country, which they are wont to think of aa immune from such experiences, is actually mensced with famine and plague. For that is what it would be called If It should befall in any other country, and we may as well give it its right name. It is of courae a consequence of the economic disorganisation folloming the war. and it demand* instant and vigorous attention. Our people, no long and so often moved by splen did charitableness toward the unfortunates of other land*, v. Ill nexec permit such an affliction here at h?^Moved by a realisation that there must be no delay in coping with such a condition. I am writing to aak you if the Red fro*? can make an immediate investigation and report the present situation, the oatlook for the future, and the measures necessary for prompt and affective relief. 1 am encloMn* a copy of the report which Surgeon General CumminK has made, ard am asking to be advised whether the Red Croas possesses the organlaatlon and tneafcs to makr. perhaps In co-operation with the fublic Uwlth Service, and survey and out'iw of necessarv measures. Ina?m"<-h as promptness and accuracy arc vitally important In' such a matter. I will be 1rlad to enliat any public tMtramentalities that may properly be employed to assist in the tank. OONTINCKU ON P*Ut THE*