The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-23

HOOVER ANSWERS CRITICS OF
RELIES WORK.
MILLIONS Starving and Head Of Amer.
kan Commission Says This Was
Sufficient tO Stir United States

Sufficient to Stir United States
London. Dec. 1s.-Critics of the
American commission for relief in Bel
gium. who have asserted that an atti-
tude Of impartinlity would have left
the burden OF caring for the starving
Bslgians to the belligerent power re-
sponsible for their condition, were an
Jwered today by Herbert c. Hoover.
chairman Of the commission. In an ad-
dress here. He declared that before
tho question of moral responsibility
was settled starvation and violence
would have finished wars work OF
desolation In the ill-starred little coun-
try.
1T II enough for America that sew
en- millions Of humanity are In the
hoppers. passing between two gigantic
miilstones." said the speaker.
Mr.. Hoover spoke ut a luncheon
given members Of the commission by
American business men. Introducing
praise to the work of the commission.
He r,id II was the orly link between
the great belligerent nations and the
farmer Of the Mississippi Valley.
Mr.. Hoover said close harmony ex-
isted between the commission and the
national committee in Belgium. De-
scribing the work Of the latter body
ne said:
Its patron. protector and most ar
dent spirit Ia the American minister.
Brand Whitlock. for whom the Bel
sian people cherish a justihable and
undying Affection
Food asgregating between $1,000
600 and S10.o00.O00 In value already
has been delivered In Belgium by tho
commission. Mr.. Hoover said. while
thirty-two ships. now on the way or
uncer charter. would provide an ade-
quate supply until February 12.
"I wish to make clear with empha-
sis" said the speaker. "that the Ger
mans are not interfering with distri-
button of this foodstufY. Not one
mounthfui has gone down a German
throat yet. nor do I believe 1t ever
will. We have had nothing but help
from the Germans.
when we were asked to undertake
this work the first question which
sro~~ IA c,r v,,scas mas. yUh,, do~,.
the Germans provision the peop.s Of
Belgium? We were told that under
international law II was the duty Of
an occupying army to feed the civil
population. We ~ere told further by
certain Independent elements In Eng
land that In importing foodstuffs into
Belgium we were relieving the Ger
mans Of their moral and legal duties;
that we were performing unnecessary
labor and. In effect, supplying Eng
lands enemy with foodstuffs.
These are largely the views of the
Enslish soldier. The German soldier.
on the other hand. states that the
Belgians hitherto have imported two
thirds Of their food supplies. that the
civil population still possesses re-
sources In credit. which would be
available upon the return Of industrial
activity. and that In taking the har-
bor Of Antwerp the gateway was open
ed to the neutral world through which
tho Belgians could provision them
selves.
1T also is said that nothing pre-
vents the normal flow OF trade and
the revival Of industry In Belgium. ex.
cept the British navy. and that. there
fore. tho moral responsibility for the
starvation OF this population rests
with the allies. II Is stated further
more that the people Of Belgium by
their hostility seriously hampered the
German plans. that their continued
hostility requires considerable forces
OF occupation and that the Belgians
refuse to operate the public services of
their country. compelling the Germans
~ thtot StINlCtS Will SUI
diers.
For this reason. II Is argued. the
civil population still Is assisting the
allies and since the allies have these
benefits they morally are obliged to
support the population. Furthermore.
II is said that while the German food
supply Is adequate to carry on the war
to Its end. IL that country had to take
upon It's hack the additional load VI
feeding 100000 persons their storcs
might be depleted seriously; and as
their national integrity Is at stake
they do not propose to do 1t.
II am not Offering either Of these
views as being my own. am merely
placing bef,~e YOU the argument
which Is I'm progress among these
clashing pow, - I'm reference 10 N mat