East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-01-29
BY ED d. KEEN.
ted States staff Correspondent

CUnitsa States staff Correspondent
LONDON, Jan. 3.-By Mail to New
York. George Bernard shaw's con-
tenthon that England and France have
not done as much as they might for
Belgium has received endorsement
from an unexpected quarter. The
British socialist party has just direct
ed sharp letter to Premier Asquith
In which they make the same charge
Il Is understood that similar action Is
10 be taken by the French socialists
and there is a possibility that the
question OF Belgium win soon again
be one OF the supreme side issues OF
the war. In the letter, which was
drafted by the executive committee OF
the British socialist party the follow
ing declarations are made:
''over six millions Of people in Bel
rtVIm are on the verge OF starvation.
and the outlook for the civil popula-
tIon is terrible indeed. The measures
taken for their relief rest upon the
sienderest foundation. In saying this
we do not cast the slightest reflee-
ton upon the Americans who are
working so strenuously TO ameliorate
the horrors of the situation.
Monsieur Emile Roger, deputy for
Toyrnai. says In the Independence
Beige OF the 2znd OF this month: "A
friend writes to me from Belgium
that, in spite OF all the devotion In
the work Of organizing relief, beggarS
Increase in numbers every day. There
are district where nine-tenths are
wholly dependent upon public char
fly. and the officials there see clearly
that they will soon be without resoure-
es, and unable TO feed anyone. The
civil population Of Belgium sends US
messages warning us Of their distress
ed condition and imploring aid"
Truly" as NJ. Royer says, "a whole
nation is dying!"
"In these circumstances, sir, we feel
Il 10 be our duty 90 ask what steps
are being taken 10 mitigate this stu
pendous disaster. We submit most
strongly that the people Of Great Brit
ain should know rthat then govern
ment is using every possible means of
preventing the wholesale sacrifice OF,
non.combatants and women and chill
drenson the altar OF military necessity.
1T should be possible for the Ger
man administration in Belgium to,
give fhcilities fer the free distribution
OF food under neutral auspices, no
matter from w1rat sources those sup
plies are obtained, and to guarantee
that such a distribution shall. be made
to and enjoyed by the Belgium civil
We urge, therefore, most
strongly that the Allies approach the
German government without delay in
order to secure such Distribution of
food to The Belgian people.
AN attempt In 5his direction should
be made at once, and should include
n request for a guarantee tina. all
to Industrial activity in
Belgium. IN the way OF fines and i'm
positions should BE- immt diately re-
moved
"'That there are difficuhies in the
way we readily admit Bun they are
MOI insuperablN II the German ad-
in Belgium refuses these
reqSests. then the allies would be
justified in making an Immediate ap-
peal 10 all the neutral nations.
The mute anguish Of a nation OF
whose independence and neutrality
his country has constituted itself the
appeals to us with pdteous
and we are convinced
hat the whole civilized world will
approve and applaud whatever steps
ire taken to give effect 20 the Sug-
yestion eatlined above.
Here is a translation OF letter re-
.eivad NV the editor of tho Indiaman