THE PROBLEM OF RENDERING ASSISTANCE 295
found a strong echo in the various states of the world. A few
days after Cardinal Innitzer's declaration there were others
of the same kind from the peoples and nationalities in other
European countries which were concerned for the fate of their
kinsmen. There were also protests by the great international
associations, especially those of a religious nature. They all
demanded that humanitarian principles should be placed
before current political considerations. One of these associa-
tions, the European Centre for Church Assistance at Geneva,
at whose head was Professor Keller, addressed a fresh and
emphatic appeal to the evangelical Churches of the world
to set on foot without delay relief action "on a broad
basis."
Then the ninth European Nationalities Congress at Berne
took up the question shortly before the meeting of the
League of Nations Assembly at Geneva. Here, it must be
emphasized, traditional enemies like the Russian and Ukrainian
nationalities for the first time expressed full agreement with
each other's views and demands. One after another the repre-
sentatives of all the Russian and all the Ukrainian national
groups in Europe—not those of the emigres living in the various
states—solemnly demanded that the relief plans should be
immediately put into action.
The Congress passed a special resolution welcoming the
secretary-general's memorandum and the concrete proposals
contained in it. It also declared that the circles it represented
would do everything in their power to support the relief
action.
From Berne, on the conclusion of the Congress, the members
of its presidential body proceeded to Geneva to convey its
resolution to the then president of the League Council, the
Norwegian Premier, Dr. Mowinckel, and to beg him to use
his influence to take up the question of a relief action for
the starving in Russia. The representatives of all sections of
the Ukrainian people outside the Soviet Union also went to