Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
As I note that the program upon which I have been placed refers to
foreign relations of the U.S. Veterans’ Bureau in care of ex-soldiers of
the formed-allied countries, with your permission I will add to that,
the care of U.S. ex-service men in foreign countries. The care of U.S.
ex-service men in this country has been discussed from every angle, and
it would seem proper that we should also refer to his care in foreign
countries from a medical standpoint, as well as to the care of the
allied ex-service man in this country.
[Sidenote: THE LAW PROVIDING FOR THE CARE OF U.S. EX-SERVICE MEN IN
FOREIGN COUNTRIES]
As act of Congress, Public 104, Sixty-sixth Congress, approved December
24, 1919, provides that the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, now the
Veterans’ Bureau, is authorized, to furnish transportation, also
medical, surgical, and hospital services to discharged members of the
military or naval forces of those Governments which have been associated
in war with the United States since April 6, 1917, and come within the
provisions of laws of such Governments similar to the War Risk Insurance
Act, at such rates and under such regulations as the Director of the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance may prescribe, etc.
[Sidenote: AUTHORIZATION FOR SERVICE]
You will note that this provision of the law stipulates at such rates
and under such regulations as the Director of the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance may prescribe. The regulation that has been issued by the
Director of the U.S. Veterans’ Bureau provides that in all cases where
application for treatment is made by ex-members of the military or naval
forces of the allies, such treatment will be furnished only on the
specific authorization of the Director of the U.S. Veterans’ Bureau upon
authority obtained from the Government concerned, to incur the expense
of treatment in each case. When treatment is so authorized, the same
procedure is to be followed as in cases of application made by
ex-members of the Canadian forces, which is as follows: