The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-25
Swedens Famine Relief Committee
Opposed to Accepting Aid
From the Outside. 0
Hostility Hampered the Work Some
what in This Country-Nor-
ways Attitude Similar. Il

Swedens pride has been deeply wounded
Dy the prominence the country has at
tanned through the famine in the PROV
lnce OF Norrand. In the riksdag or par
lament there occurred last Saturday a
heated debate regarding the famine move
ment, in which those who were active in
the relief work. both the press and pri-
Vate persons. were accused of misrep-
resentlng conditions in Sweden. il +
The replies were equally strong. Sew
eral. prominent members of the, riksdag
had Investigated the famine conditions
very closely and they knew that the dis
tress was great and that If the people did
not receive aid from outside sources for
months to come they would surely -starVe
to death. Even on this showing the riks
dag, which has been. .inexplicably indif-
ferent and supine, took no action to re-
lfeNe the distress. -.
The outburst in the riksdag is simply
an echo of a controversy which has ragged
IN the Swedish press both in Sweden and
In America for several months. The prin-
clpal relief committee in official state
ments greatly underestimated. the true
conditions and minimiZed the Importance
OF extending aid. Private reports were
sent out by those in authority to coun-
teract the wholly Inaccurate reports of
the. central committee. which was re-
strained by national pride. These con-
troversies with their misleading state
ments have greatly hampered, the work
| OF the committees in America. ;. ~..
NJ .. Werner general treasurer of. the
! state commission appointed by Governor
| van SAINT. admits that wounded pride in
Sweden has been drawback to the com
| missions work 49,. =. !
I'VE hardly know, how to proceed at
| first. he explained. From the central
! relief committee we received cable mes
| sage, which certainly was not alarming
and which might hoy Ii
| interest In the work. had it not been for
| the receipt on the same day Of two private
and confidential cables from the most
| trustworthy sources. assuring us that lit
| tie reliance should be placed on the COM
| mittee reports. Acting on these and other
messages our committee decided to send
| its funds direct to Governor Bergstrom
| Of Norrbotte. whose headquarters are at
Lulea. We have had several COMMUNE
| cations from Governor Bergstron, in
| whom we place the utmost reliance. The
| last one, Slated March IS, states that at
| least 500. 900 kr will be needed to carry
! the people through the famine and of this
| amount not more than 100000. can be ex-
| pected from the committee at Stockholm
| Within the past few days we have re-
| ceived from an authoritative source a
| statement that at least 100000 kr. will
be required every month to keep the live
stock alive. -.
I'm Norway the same spirit has pre-
vailed. The distress has been minimized
| and many Norwegians objected to re
! ceiving assistance from foreign sources
| The organization of relief committees was
| discouraged and. the whole movement
antagonized: -::
| "We of the relief committee have in
vestigated the various. reports with great
| care and are more than. ever satisfied
| that we have done our duty and that not
a. cent raised in America is superfu
! GUS" .,... go -. ..,,..-