800.51W89 Belgium/260
The Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Hospitalization (Patman) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: The hospitals in the United States are very much in need of radium that can be secured from Belgium. This radium is needed by people suffering from cancer, most of whom have spent all or at least a large part of their funds trying to get relief before they reach a large medical center equipped for cancer work. 95% of these cancer sufferers are charity patients.
I wonder if it is possible for our Government to obtain radium from Belgium as a payment on war debts owed by Belgium to the United States. If you can consistently do so, I hope you will ascertain the possibility of acquiring radium as herein indicated.
With kindest regards [etc.]