Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29
Feed the Starving B@gia Is Ec1ong R@@Gng Throughout

be taken into Belgium and used by the
I Belgians. 1t is not yet possible TO get
either clothing or fuel into that coun-
II try without it's seizure by the Germans.
but it is hoped that such arrangements
can be made soon. Such clothing as is
contributed thus far in the United
States is going to Belgian refugees in
northern France. Holland and else
where, being distributed by official Bel
gian and American committees. Thus
far more than 1000 large cases of
ity. including many fine overcoats.
have been sent to these refugees
through the Belgian consul general in
New York.
that the people of the United States
have assumed is shown by the fact
that there are more than 100000
women and children and other non
starvation. and that there are from
three to four hundred thousand
refugees who must be provided for.
These can be reached only through
the benefactions of the people of this
country, and a committee of Ameri-
cans organized in London, when con-
signed to the American minister in
Brussels, who is distributing the relief
through committees under the Ameri-
can flag. 1t is estimated that 1000 tons
of food are required daily to feed
these people.
Railroads of the United States and
NtHdud ana SnlpD1nS lines giving
lnest1mable assistance by transporting
lall of the contributions free of charge
They have agreed to carry all relief
supplies across land or ocean without
charge.
When the central relief committee
was first organized it was thought by
some that the moneys collected in this
country should be held here until the
time of rehabilitation came at the close
of the war. The Belgian minister.
however di,ta -
his people. and sent at once $4,000 to
the minister of the interior to care for
the refugees and the more pressing
requirements of the women and chill
dren in Belgium. Then the food short
age came The German invaders had
not only seized all the food but inter-
cepted all coming into the country. 80
that money in Belgium was no longer
of use to avert starvation. There was
no way for them to buy food
Then Brand Whitlock, the American
minister. with the help of the Belgian
committee In Brussels, brought about
the organization of an American relief
! committee in London. under the patron
age and with the active cooperation of
American Ambassador Page Herbert
Hoover is chairman of this committee.
After two weeks of diplomatic parley-
B ing, this committee succeeded in MAX
ing International agreements with Eng
land, Holland and Germany England
agreed to suspend the food embargo
sufficiently to allow some thousands OF
pounds of foodstuffs to be shipped out
! of the country. but only on the condi-
ton that it should be Immediately re-
paid. Holland also agreed to lift the
embargo and assist in expediting the
shipment of food into Belgium: then
| the German government assented to
guarantee that supplies sent through
the London committee and consigned
personally to Minister Whitlock shall
not be requisitioned for the German
army. Consequently no food can reach
| Belgium save through the agency OF
] the London committee.
7 AS England has no food to sell-and
| if she had. famine prices would pre-
| vail-the London American relief CON-
mittee has established a purchasing de-
pot in this country, for the buying here
of all supplies for the distressed nation
! The foodstuffs can be bought here
much cheaper, the money can be made
| to go farther. and will at the same time
| be kept in this country, stimulating
trade, and returned to circulation, bet
| tering all phases of life at home while
doing a big work of mercy abroad.
All of the civic and state committees
are urged to spend the money collect.
| ed in their territory in their own fac
| tories and stores. The cooperation OF
| the railroads in furnishing free trans.
portation makes this home-buying more