The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-02
SPEND MILLIONS
To AID EUROPEAN
NONC0MBAIANTS
Rockefeller Foundation Issues
Statement Outlining Plans
For Relief of Distressed
---------s---------
First Steamship
Already Chartered
-
Marks An Initial Expenditure
of $275,OO0-Immense Sums
To Be Used With Lavishness
Never Before Known

New York, Nov 1.-The Rockefel-
Ter foundation. through Its president
John d. Rockefeller, Jr, made known
yesterday It's determination to do
everything within Its power for the re-
lief Of noncombatants In the European
war. To this end Mr.. Rockefeller
sayp in q statement issued over his
name no exertion will be spared and
millions OF dollars. IL necessary, Will
be spent
Already q steamer, the Massapequa.
has been chartered to sail with all
speed with foodstuffs for the starving
Belgtans. It In mentioned tina the sup
plies now being slowed away in the
hold Of this steamer mark an initial
expenditure of $276,000. The Massa-
pequa will leave New York Tuesday.
Other steamers laden with food and
other supplies are TO follow quickly.
The foundation has announced its
decision 10 succor the starving and
helpless nomcombatants only after a
careful survey Of the situation and
the discovery that never In recent his
tory has a condition of such misery
and hardship presented Itself to any
phiianthrop.c institution
Commission for Europe.
That the immense sums of money
which. II may be understood from
Mr.. Rockefeller, are TO be spent with
a iayishness never before known IN
any individual charity may be directed
TO the points where the need Is great
est, special commission Is 10 leave
New York within a few days TO visit
the countries affected by the war. Al
the head OF this commission VIII no
Wickliffe Rose. director-general OF the
TT yxN- r~,An sal A.,
organized rsne Rockefeller campaign
against the hookworm disease IN va
rious parts of the world. He will be
aided by others yet to be named. Their
work L. OF course, to be absolutely
neutral. Aid h 10 b given frst to
those who seem TO need 1t first. but II
is to be given alike to the people OF
ali ths warning nations without re-
striction. and only with a wish to
relieve human misery and suffering.
With this purpose In view, the first
steamer being sen. will 20 TO Rotter-
dam, Holland, there to discharge it's
cargo Of food for distribution to the
noncombatants OF Belgium Later. II
IN to be expected. relief will be given
to people of other nationalities wher-
ever needed.
In making its first efforts the foun-
dation has asked for tho advice of
Ambassador Page, and has as nearly
~ possible followed his suggestions.
The British consul In this city has aid
ed In the first shipment OF supplies by
certifying that they are absolutely for
noncombatants and should not be de-
layed In transit. II. c. Hoover. OF the
American relief committee In Lon
don, In another whose advice has been
sought.
RockcfclLr's Statement
Mr.. Rockefe!ier's statement follows:
.Jt having become clear mat one
Of the most terrible and appalling
effects OF the war will fall upon tne
noncombatants--tho most innocent
Of any part In the cause or the con-
duct OF the confiict--the Rockefeller
foundation has determined 10 exert
itself to the extent. II necessary. of
millions of dollars for the relief of
noncom hatants in the various countries
involved.
This action 10 taken as a natural
step in fulfilling the chartered pur-
poses OF the foundation, namely. TO
promote the well-being Of mankind
throughout the world That the
necessity IL Vital and worthy OF the
heArt1est support IL indicated by the
following cablsgrams which. in reply
10 Inquiries. We have received from
Mr. Page. me American ambassador In
London:
"'Belsians on verge of starvation.
/ emphatically regard 1t most oppor-
tune to help. I have never known
such case Of need. Committee to
distribute food consists Of prominent
Americans here and influential Bel
ginns in Belgium and American min
lister and consuls In Belgium, all un-
der my direction. British government
forbids export OF food and no food
can be bought on continent. Help
needed In food and clothing for wo-
men and children
win Require Millions.
cit will require a million dollars
1 month for seven or eight months to
prevent starvation. In fact, many will
starve now before food can reach
them. No food can be bought and
Mported from any country - Europe.
Every dollar you choose to give will
ave or prolong human life II yop
rive II quickly enough. No other
Time win come In any land when there
viii be greater need. Do not send
money. Buy six parts wheat. two
parts rice, two parts beans. and ship
IN neutral ships consigned to Ameri-
can consul at Rotterdam. Inform me
when you ship and ! will arrange all
diubomattc requirements for landing.
eoF transit 10 Belgium, and for distri-
mission OF relief. which. as a meane
Of reaching all the people. have taken
over all grocery stores
Immediately upon receiving these
messages. the Rockefeller foundation
enlisted the cooperation Of the ship
ping department of the Standard OIL