Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-24
IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT
TO MAKE DIRECT GRANT

Under these conditions. 1t was i'm
possible for our government 10 make q
direct grant 20 the commission
Further. I was ahl. to inform VOL,
last month that Ills Maiesty's govern
!n"nt would grant the commission n
monthly subvcntion to enable IL 10
carry on Its work, on condition that
me German government would under
take TO cease all acquisitions for food
or any Kind. and all levies and contri-
buttons OF any kind whatever in Bel
GUM. with the exception. OF course
of such taxation of the people as is ad-
United under The Hague convention.
II now understand that during YOUR
recent visit to Berlin you informed the
German government of the exact posi-
ion OF affairs, but that. while they
consented 10 stop all acquisitions for
1000 IN the zone OF occupation east OF
Client. they refused to consider the
cessation of their pecuniary cxactions.
and especially the levy Of 10000, 600
francs n month. which they apparently
intend to continue.
Solely on account of this attitude
on the part or the German government
the proposed arrangements between
Ills Majesty's government and the COM
mission must be regarded as having
broken down. We shall, OF course
maintain our general favorable attitude
towards your work. and our offer of
financial support will remain open in
the event OF the German government
receding from their present position
with regard TO their levies in Belgium
u cannot conclude this letter without
expressing our appreciation of the gem
crosby Of the American people and OF
ni1ot
by the commission, which alone have
made this work possible. The peoplc of
this country will. I am sure, recocntze
IN your work prominent example OF
the qualities Of efficiency and public
spirit which distinguish the many neu-
trail services being rendered by Ameri-
cans In Europe at the present time
'SiSne0 "E. GREY"
MIR. HOOVER DEPLOREs
DENIAL OF HIS REQUEST
Mr.. Hoover. In reply to the letter,
issued this statement tonight:
The commission deeply regrets that
it's hopes again have been disappointed
In finding some lack of accomrho dation
between the belligerents by which the
financing of Its most difficult section
that Is, benevolent side of the commits
sion's work. would have been In a great
measure assured. The failure of this
particular negotiation does not alter the
must be fed. nor that there arc 500, 600
absolutely destitute people In the coun-
try, nor that the number of destitute
people will increase by 100000 before
the next harvest.
The commission took up Its task be-
cause both sides denied responsibility
for feeding the nation, and we always
have been confident that sooner or later
some basis OF general accomm odation
could be arrived at between the con-
hictinE powers. Although we have re-
ccivcd much direct and indirect helm
from all the belligerents in our work.
we started our work originally with
little resources except faith that the
world could not and would not allow
these people to die. We do not purpose
to lay down our burden simply because
no remedy actually Is In sight
The very immensely OF the problem
itself must bring n solution. Had It not
been for the stream of food supplies wo