South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-05
German Levy of $S.OOO.OOO
Monthly on Belgium Hats
Britain's Charitable Aid

Idertook through your commission 10
supply money and food To the Bel
gan population the only result would
be an equivalent diminution OF the
food and supplies already there. The
British government in fact, would be
facilitating the feeding and paying for
the maintenance OF the German
army.
Under these conditions il was i'm
possible for our government To make
a direct grant 10 the commission.
Eventually, however. his majesty's
government recognized that the work
OF the commission was directed on
sound lines 10 supply the urgent
needs OF the Belgian people and had
the less doubt on this point in view
Of the additional guarantee obtained
by you IN December from the Ger
man government that at least all
kinds of foodstuffs which would need
| 10 be replaced by the commission
should be free from all requisition.
and in view of the assurances you
we're able TO give his majestys GOV
eminent that foodstuffs imported by
| you had not been interfered with by
German troops.
Further. ] was able to inform --.u
| last month that his majesty's evv-
eminent would grant the commission
a monthly subventiOn TO enable it TO
carry on its work on condition that
| the German government would I'M
! dertake 10 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 peO-
| pie as is admitted under The Hague
! convention.
/ Barred by acquisitions.
AT your request this offer was not
| made public at the time, but you
were authorized TO inform the Ger
man government Of il. I now under
| stand that during your recent trip to
Berlin you informed the German
! government OF the exact position of
affairs, but that. while they consented
to stop all acquisitions for food in
the zone Of occupation east Of Client
they refused to consider the cessation
of their pecuniary eXactions. and es-
pecially the levy of 10000, 900 francs
a month, which they apparently in
tend to continue.
| Solely on account Of this attitude
on the part of the German govern
ment the proposed arrangement be-
tween his majesty's government and
the commission must be regarded as
| having broken down. We shall. OF
course. maintain our general favora-
bic attitude toward your work and
IOuT OllcI Ol I1dnCldl support VIII re-
main open in the event of the Ger
man government receding from their
present 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 allegiance.
''I cannot close this letter without
expressing our appreciation of the
generosity of the American people
and of the admirable organization es-
tablished by the commission which
have alone made this work impossi-
bic. The people Of this country will
1 am sure, recognize in your work
: a prominent example OF the qualities
of efficiency and public spirit which
: distinguish the many neutral services
being rendered by Americans IL
Europe at the present time.
/ &c. GREY
Mr.. Hoover, in reply to the letter