New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-20
BELGIAN RELIEF
. FUND S5O,OOO,OOO
H. c. Hoover Says Amer
ica's S6,0O0,000 Furnish
ed Vital Support.

London, Sept. p Corres pondence OF
The Associated Press. The first COM
plete report OF the Commission for Re-
lief in Belgium, covering the first eight
months of its existence. reveals that in
income and expenditure the organlza-
ton forms the greatest relief move
ment of history. The commission has
collected and disbursed S60000000,
sl5,000,000 OF which has been contrib
uted in the form OF money or gift food
by the people of the United States and
the British Empire and Belgium itself
Over so per cent of the money expend-
ed by the commission in benevolence Is
being furnished by Belgans abroad.
and large amount also is being sup
piled by Belgans in Belgium.
In discussing the report Herbert {.
Hoover. chairman of the commission,
said: ut may cause some surprise
among Americans, who believe that the
United States is provisioning the Bel
gian and French people in the track Of
war, that only something like S6,OOO,OOO
in food. clothes and money have come
from the United States. However, the
American public should realize that the
commission, in it's organization, work
ing personnel and political aspects, ~
distinctly American. The American
charitable support, so early and
promptly given, came at the very IN
ception of the movement, when such
backing was vital 10 the success OF the
organization in giving it time TO build.
This support gave the commission us
foundation from which it acquired the
moral prestige that enabled II 20 -
cure vitality necessary concessions 'foh
the various beligerent governments.
Nor is the necessity for this valued
support at all over. The problem be-
/ comes more difficult every day, Tor the
number of destitute has increased
/ from 1000, 900 last October TO 2,I5O'OOO
in June, and now grows at the rate Oh
1000 month"
"The provisioning department says
the report. "is charged with the duty
of revictualling the whole seven million
people. and up to June 30 had either
delivered or had in stock over 100000
tons of foodstuifs for the Belgian Sec
ZION TO the gross value of over S45.5OO,-
600. The whole of these foOdstuhs are
resold TO the population through
broad system of reticulation, ana the
nrofit earned on these operations IS
devoted to the support Of the destitute
Such profits have been made possible
nv the volunteer executive, CONNER
cial and transportation services ana
the amount of these profits about 81
400 600 10 date-is the measure OF the
value of such voluntary service.
Through the benevolent depart
ment," the report continues, the
charity of the world and OF the belgian
people themselves IS moDlllzed 10
the support OF the destitute ana
through it over 2,75O,OOO persons are
now being assisted in some measure
,yitb food and clothing. The total re-
sources made available TO the commits
sion from abroad for the support OF
tho destitute was over S3l ,OOOOOO TO
June 30. and the expenditure from
these sources was at that date SZo'-
600 600. and is now proceeding at the
rate of about $5000,0O0 month. Be
vond this expenditure lies local chari-
~ now exceeding Sl0OOO,OOO.
"The growing and gloomy problem
is one OF unemployment, for month
bv month larger proportion OF
the industrial mass OF over 3'oOV'oVV
people falls further and further into
restitution. The commission Is trans
hitting S5,OOO,OOO month from the
outside world for the destitute, yet this
sum divided over those now unem-
Moved and destitute would average
less than five cents a day
In addition to the Belgian people,
the commission also supplies the
French population within the German
occupied territory, which number
about 100000. The cost OF supporting
these people amounts 10 about $4,000
600 a month. and is accomplished en-
tirelv without recourse TO charity by
financial arrangements which the COM
mission has Instituted whereby the
towns in the occupied zones secure
loans from the banks OF Paris.