The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-26

lOt II lilt ldIt that on UlOIE lAab piS
| cassion it has been officially request
| ed to explain the publication in news
papers of articles and advertising mat
ter with which II had no connection
and which seemed to be menace to
its policy of neutrality
Diplomacy In the most delicate as
well as the most intricate bit Of the
| great and complex machine of govern
ment The fate of nations has for
ages depended upon it. For ages wars
/ have been averted by il. or precipl-
! tated by flaws in It; for ages careers
| have been crowned by it, or blasted
| through weaknesses at vital points in
/ its construction. A breath of air---a
lcareless woodland an entire structure,
| laboriously builded and supposedly
strong and enduring. is tumbled 10
| earth like a house of cards.
! When the exigencies of Belgium,
! brought about by the conflict of the
| Powers of Europe, became known to
the civilized world there was presented
a problem that was to test the efficacy
/ OF diplomacy and the metue of the
A nation was facing
starvation and the problem was how
! that dreadful fate might be averted.
| Seven millions OF human souls had
| been isolated from the outside world;
| seven millions of men, women and
| children--non-co mbatants~-lef be-
/ hind the battle line, and without
! food, Belgium, yesterday a happy,
| prosperous nation, had become de-
! pendent on the worlds charity.
1t was for the purpose OF solving
this great problem of Belgium's sore
need that all the best resources OF
| diplomacy we're called forth. A little
group OF able and earnest men gath
cred at the American Embassy in
| London 1t included besides our own
ambassador, the Spanish and Italian
ambassadors in the British capital,
with the assistance of the neutral
ministers standing to their posts in
Brussels. our minister TO Holland ana
the consuls of all interested nations
in the war zone. An appeal was
formulated on behalf of the Belgian
people; an appeal not to charity. not
to professional philanthropy. but an
appeal 10 the love Of all the world,
an appeal to live. The result is his
tory, and it will go down through
the ages as the brightest chapter ever
penned by hist orians.
That was the beginning. The ma
chinery of diplomacy was adjusted and
it's work was rapid and effective. Like
all things modern. 1t called for modern
methods of work. The necessary diplo-
UnatlC. naval anu iHilhldIS INSTRUMENTS
were arranged with hewildering quick
ness; the cables and the wireless teie-
graph we're called into requisition and
the necessary signatures and endorse
ments were secured on the rush or
der plan, evolving the charter OF that
creation the like OF which was never
before known--The Commission for
Relief in Belgium.
For a little less than six months
now the commission has been opera
ting under the charter granted by
, the belliserent nations. and the Bel
, gian people have been fed.
American people, the people who
, have saved Belgium from starva ton
should know just how it has been
possible for the commission to &C
complish what It has accomplished
for the stricken little nation across
the sea 1t may be told shortly:
Neutrality and Humanity.
The Commission for Relief in Bel
GUM was founded 10 deal not with
causes, but with effects. Neutrality Ii
the keystone of it's arch. Failure In
I this part of its compact would NEAR
} inevitable failure of its mission and
e the complete cessation of it's worn
!, in aid OF the Belgian people
D Thus far the commission, solely by
4 ts stern adherence to neutrality, h1:
r been able to accomplish It's objects
- Such accomplishment would have beer
8 impossible but for the act that rs
official status was assured from thS
very beginning. 1t was granted b,
e the German Government not only this
0 sole right TO transport good TO Eel
! GUM but was given the active syrl
e pathy and aid of the German militar,
:, authorities.
o II should be known that every
t pound of food and that all contribu
T lions to the Belgians whatsoeve
- MUST RE SENT THROUGH THU
= COMMISSION FOR RELIEF IN BEL
= GUM; they must become the propert,
o OF the commission before they cal
= be sent in the commissions ships NJ
n ship not flying the commissions hal
is permitted to deliver food in Bel
G GUM.
d With its great resources for trans
4 portation, from inland cities ant
n towns to the sea board and from on
! ports to Rotterdam, which Is the dis
r tributing point for Belgium; with 1t
/, working staff in New York. the main
r tensnce OF which Is provided for b,
0 special fund, insuring donor tina
100 cents of every dollar they contri
| butte to relief reaches the Belgians
and with its complete State organi2a
:, lions in nearly every State in tn
IL Union, the commission Is thorough,
equipped to carry on the relief worl
so that there is not deterioration II
III the final distribution.
III The commission comprises ffty-fiv
members of whom Ambassador
a Page, In London: Gerard, in Berlin
I Sharp. in Paris. Merry Del Val Zu
lucia Spanish Ambassador in London
1 LIE Marquis de Villalobar, and Bran'
Whitlock, the Spanish and American
Ministers in Brussels, and Henry Val
Dyke, American Minister in Thu
3 Hague, are honorary chairmen. 1t
0 personnel is a guarantee of the fl
0 deity of it's mission.
/ The commission has deplored tn
. making of certain money-raising plea
S from their nature embarrassing to IL
/ distribution system in Belgium. AM
4 deprecated the insertion of such adver
Using in the newspapers that hav'
6 called forth serious criticism abroat
and here. 1t does not control o.
sponsor them. 1t ia not that the com
mission undertakes In the least degree
Q the value of newspaper and othel
0 advertising. which is often beyond es
innate. 1t is most highly appreciativ'
D of all that the press of the United
States has done for the cause OF th'