New Britain herald., 1915-02-24
or the maintenance of the German

for the maintenance of the German army.
 Under these conditions. it was inn possible for our government to make direct grant to the commission. Eventually, however, his majesty S government recognized that the work of the commission was directed on sound lines to supply the urgent needs of the Belgian people, and had the less doubt on this point in view of t1ie additional guarantee obtained by you in December from the German gov ernment that at least all kinds of foodstuffs which would need to be re placed by the commission should be free from all requisition and in view of the assurances you were able to give his majestys government that foodstuffs imported by you had not been interfered with by German troops
 Up to German Government.
 Further, l was able to inform you last month that his majesty's govern mcnt would grant the commission monthly subvention to enable it to carry on its work, on condition that the German government would un- dertake to cease all acquisitions for food of any kind and all levies and contributions of any kind whatever in Belgium, with the exception, of course, of such taxation of the people as is admitted under The Hague, con- vention.
 "At your request this offer was rot made pubic at the time, but you were authorized to inform the Ger man government of it. I now under stand that during your recent visit to Berlin, you informed the German government of the exact position of affairs, but that while they consent ed to stop all acquisitions for food in the zone of occupations east of Ghent, they refused to consider the cessation of their pecuniary eXactiona and especially the levy of 40,O00,000 francs month, which they appar- ently intended to continue.
 "Solely on account of this attitude on the part of the German govern ment, the proposed arrangement be- tween his majestys government and the commission must be regarded as having broken down. We shall, of course, maintain our general favor able attitude toward your work and cur offer of financial support will re- main open in the even of the German government receding from their pres ent position with regard to their levies in Belgium.
 But for the moment the idea of a direct subvention out Of the govern ment funds toward the charitable work of the commission must remain in abeyance.
 Appreciates Our Work.
 'I cannot conclude this letter without expressing our appreciation of the generosity of the American people and of the admirable organiza- tion esta blished by the commission which have alone made this work possible. The people of this country will I am sure, recognize in your work prominent example of the qualities of efficiency and public spir- it which distinguish the many neutral services being rendered by Americans in Europe at the persent time
 "E. GREY"
 Statement By Mir. Hoover
 MT. Hoover, in reply to the letter of Sir Edward Grey, made the follow ing statement last night:
 The commission deply regrets that it's hopes again have been disap pointed in finding some lack of ac- commodation between the belligerents by which the financing of it's most difficult section, that is. the benevo- lent side of the commissions work, would have been in a great measure assured The failure Of this particu- lar negotiation does not alter the fact that 100000 people in Belgium must still be fed, nor that there are 1,500,- 900 absolutely destitue people in the country, nor that the number of dc.s- ela1I72E