Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-12-23
"IT is ENOUGH" SAYS HOOVER,
"For America to Know that 7,OOO,-
600 People Are Starving"

London, Dec. 1S.-Critics of the
| American commission for relief in
Belgium who have asserted that an
attitude of impartiality would have
left the burden Of caring for the
starving Belgians to the belligerent
power responsible for their condi-
ton, were answered to-day by Her
bert c. Hoover, chairman of the COM
mission, in an address here. He de-
clared that before the question of
moral responsibility was settled,
starvation and violence would have
finished wars work of desolation in
the ill-starred little country.
1T is enough for America that
seven millions Of humanity are in the
hoppers, passing between two gigan-
tic millstones," said the speaker.
Mr.. Hoover spoke at luncheon
given members of the commission by
American business men. Introducing
him, Ambassador Page gave high
praise to the work of the commits
sion. He said it was the only link
between the great belligerent ma
tions and the farmer Of the Missis-
sipii Valley.
Close Harmony Exists.
Mr.. Hoover said close harmony ex-
listed between the commission and
the national committee in Belgium.
Describing the work of the latter
body, he said:
Its patron, protector and most ar
dent spirit is the American minister,
Brand Whitlock, for whom the Bel
GUM people cherish justifiable and
undying affection.
Food aggregating between ST.
100000 and $1O,OOO,OOO in value
already has been delivered in Bel
gium Ny the commission, Mr.. Hoo
yer said, while 80 ships now on the
way or under charter would provide
an adequate supply until February
18th.
Il wish to say few words upon
the diplomatic situation in COM &C.
ton with this work." continued TIE
speaker. 81 make this statement in
view of the discussion now raging
around these points. The first thing
| wish to make clear, with emphasis,
is that the Germans are not interfer-
ing with distribution OF this food
stuff. Not one mouthful has gone
down German throat yet, nor do T
believe it ever will. We have had
nothing but help from the Germans.
when we were asked to under
take this work the first question
which arose in our minds was, Why
don't the Germans provision the peo-
pie OF Belgium? We were told that
under international law it was the
duty OF an occupying army to feed
the civil population. We were told
further by certain independent ele-
ments in England that in importing
foodstuffs into Belgium we were re-
lieving the Germans Of their moral
and legal duties; that we were per-
forming unnecessary labor and in ef-
feet supplying England's enemy with
foodstufts. Furthermore, we were
told it would be necessary for the oc-
cupying army to increase its force to
put down violence on the part Of a
starving population and that, there
fore, Germany's forces would be oc-
cupied otherwise than on the firing
line.
What the Germans Say.
"These are largely the views of
the English soldier. The German
soldier. on the ether hand, states
that the Belgians hitherto have i'm
ported two-thirds Of their food sup
plies, that the civil population still
possesses resources in credit which
would be available upon the return
OF industrial activity and that in taxi
ing the harbor Of Antwerp the gate
way was open to the neutral world
through which the Belgians could
provision themselves. 1t also is said
that nothing prevents the normal
flow of trade and the revival Of in
dustry in Belgium except the British
navy, and that, therefore, the moral
responsibility for the starvation Of
this population rests with the allies.
1t is stated furthermore that the peo-
pie Of Belgium by their hostility Sc
riously hampered the German plans;
that their continued hostility re-
quires considerable forces Of occupa-