New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-02
FUND AID LAWFUL,
DECLARES COUDERT
la Fayette Relief Work
Called in Keeping with
Neutrality.
MRS.WHITNEY WARREN
REPLIES TO CRITIC
Secours National Needs al Least
100000, She Says, to Pro-
vide for Refugees.

Questioning the neutrality Of the
Ia Fayette Fund has provoked de-
fence OF its activities from Frederic r.
Coudcrt, authority on international
law.
The la Fayctte Fund is no wise vio-
ls.es the neutrality laws Of the United
States" Mr. Coudcr. said. "These laws
are vigorously and definitely defined.
They prevent the fitting out of armed
exhibitions, the cnlstnG Of men, and
Few other specific acts, They do not
prevent the sending by individuals Of
provisions, supplies, arms or ammuni-
,ioa, although in the case Of the latter
be.lCC~Cnt vessels may seize them on
the igh seas II they are able so to do"
The acts Of the La Fsyette Fund are
those OF humanity. he holds, and should
be encouraged. Mr.. Coudert asserts
the committee cannot be impeded in
its work by ignorant criticism or ma
levolcrt auiuadvcrSion and adds:
"The idea that we can have no sym
pathics. no sense of justice, no intelli-
cent appreciation of right and wrong
because 10 is proper and necessary that
our government should remain neutral
and take no part in the war is utterly
sbsurd. Nor has this been the German
view. for, in 1870, Count Bernstorff
said 20 Lord Granvillo: 1t is impoSsibl
for the human mind not 20 side with
one or the other party in conflict
Ike .he present one. What is the use
OF being right or wrong in the eyes Of
the world. r the public remains in
sensible 10 the merits Of a cause"
Coming az the same time as the La
Favette Fund committees announce
rert that its relief work will be eI-
tended to convalcscent as we'll as &C
five French soldiers is a letter from
Nrs Whitney Warren, treasurer Of
the American Committee of the Sc
cours National. I'm reply to reports that
enough funds aye now in French hands
70 preclude the necessity of further
American relief work. The letter is
based on facts obtained from Mrs.
Varrcn's husband, active in relief work
in Paris.
Mrs. Warren says that the Secours
National IN Paris now has one million
dollars.
Yesterday the Earl Of Elgin, char
tered by the Serbian Agricultural Re
lief Committee Of America, Of 20 Fifth
Avenue. sailed for Salonica with car
80 Of large tents and clothes for a
thousand refugees, contributed by A.
r. White and family. Announcement
was made by the Commission for Re
lief in Belgium. Of Il Broadway, that
the third New York State ship will sail
before the end Of this month.
Dr. John Ii. Finley, Commissioner Of
Education and chairman of the COM
missions state committee. has returned
from visit 10 the Buffalo local COM
mittee, which has received a letter Of
thanks from the relief committee Of
Reruwelz. in the Hainaut province Of
Belgium. Dr.. Finley has consolidated
al the relief committees in Buffalo in
the commissions local committee.
The American Polish Relief Com
uittec Of New York, Il East Forty-sev-
en'h Street, has made public letter
received by q Polish resident Of But
falo. iu which the devastation Of Pc
lish villages by Germans is described.
According TO the message, wet cellars
are the only homes left to whole com
mun..cs The contributions received
by the committee have reached $50, GIG.
Other relief organizations have pub
hshed the receipts OF Contributions 70
date a follows: SecourS National, Si2,-
SS5: Belgian Relief Commission, ST.
O29Ss4: Serbian Agricultural Relief
Committee. S5OT7OSl; Persian War
Relief S27O6746, and the Committee
Of Mercy. 200 Fifth Avenue. $751; ,848.76.
Miss Anna Milo Upjohn has present
ed a collection of her charcoal and
water color drawings Of French chill
dren 20 the Secours National. Five Of
them have already been sold, and the
money obtained transferred to the
funds The remaining pictures are on
view at the Ralston Gallery; SGT Fifth
Avenue -.
The New York State Board Of the
American Red Cross has received
S49l.176.3O for the European War Re
lief Fund