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284839618
label
White House Press Release, Statement by President Harry S. Truman
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doc
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document
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1
Source metadata
id
284839618
contentType
document
title
White House Press Release, Statement by President Harry S. Truman
citationUrl
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White House Press Release Files (Truman Administration)
White House Press Releases
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284839618
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item
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17
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1947-02-17
month
2
year
1947
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nara-archive
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1
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e85fbf2530a6265e
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62
#1010
Ledillte RELEASE
FEBRUARY 17, 1947
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I have just been informed by American officials in Rumania
that 500,000 people are now starving in Moldavia, the Northern
Province of Rumania. Thousands have already died, hundreds are
dying daily, and conditions are steadily worsening.
NARA
to finance and supervise distribution of 4,500 tons of ten-in-one
In the circumstances, I have asked the American Red Cross
rations and 2,500 tons of beans to these starving people. These
supplies, already on the water, will be diverted by the United
They States Army and should reach Constanza, Rumania, within ten days.
requestedto make available transportation and other facilities to
people for approximately 16 days. The Rumania Government is being
are sufficient to provide 1000 calories per day for 500,000
enable the Rumanian Red Cross, under supervision of the American
Red Cross, to distribute this food without charge and with guarantees
grounds. against discrimination on political, racial, religious or social
At the same time, despite the magnitude of world demands
on existing stocks and transportation facilities, urgent attention
is being given to the possibilities of providing additional food
and supplies, in the form of cereal grains, for purchase by Rumania,
in that connection the Rumanian Government has been asked to
give immediate assurances that measures will be taken so that
food thus furnished, as well as remaining indigenous food, will be
situation as has now arisen. Among the assurances desired are
utilized effectively to prevent the recurrence of such an emergency
will guarantees that, so long as the present famine continues, 1) Rumania
will not employ any grain for the payment of reparations, 2) Rumania
not export or permit the ex port of any grain from Rumania for the
repayment of grain loans from other countries, for trade purposes,
or for any other reasons, and 3) United States representatives in
Rumania will be free to observe, in such manner as they see fit, the
which distribution within Rumania of grain from United States ources,
racial, religious, or social discrimination.
distribution will likewise be effected without political,
I have taken this action on humanitarian grounds. It is
to alleviate the present suffering of the people of Rumania, no
in the tradition of the American people to take all possible steps
matter what may be the cause 01 the dire emergency in which these
people now find themselves.
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