Semi-weekly herald., 1915-01-28
BRITISH SOCIALIST PARTY
URGES AID FOR BELGIUM
(By Ed L. Keen.l


LONDON, Jan. 3.-(By Mail to
New York. George Bernard Shaw's
contention that England and France
have not done as mudh as they might
for Belgium has received endorse
ment from an unexpected uarter.
The British Socialist party has just
directed a sharp letter to Premier As
quith in which they make the same
charge. 1t is understood that SINH
lar action is to be taken by the French
Socialists and there is a possibility
that the question of Belgium will soon
again be one of the supreme side is
sues of the war. In the letter, which
was drafted by the executive commit
tee of the British Socialist party, the
following declarations are made:
''Over six millions Of people in Bel
GUM 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
slenderest foundation. In saying this
we do not cast he slightest reflection
upon the Americans who are work
ing so strenuously 10 ameliorate the
horrors of the situation.
"Monsieur Emile Roger, deputy for
Toyrnai, says in the Independence
Beige of the 22nd 6f this month: "A
friend writes to me from Belgium
that, in spite of all the devotion in the
work of organizing selief, beggars in
crease in numbers every day. There
are districts where nine-tenths are
wholly dependent upon public char
ity, and the officiels there see clear
ly that they will soon be without re-
sources, and unable to feed anyone.
The civil population of Belgium send
us messages warning us of their dis
tressed condition and imploring aid
"Truly, as M. Roger says: "A whole
nation is dyingr
''In these circumstances, sir, we feel
it to be our duty to ask what steps
are being taken to mitigate this stu
pendoUs disaster. We submit most
strongly that the people of Great
Britain should know that their gov
ernment is using every possible means
of preventing the Wholesale sacrifice
of non-combatants and women and
children on the altar of military ne
cessity.
at should be possible for the Ger
man administration in Belgium to give
laCillNleS lOf iDt Lee uiSlIlDulloH pl
food under neutral Auspices, no mat
ter from what sources those supplies
are obtained, and to guarantee that
such n distribution shall be made to
and enjoyed by the Belgium civil
population. We urge, therefore, most
strongly that the tsiies APPROACH the
German government without delay ii
order to secure such distribution Of
food to the Belgian people.
AN attempt in this direction should
be made at once, and should include
request for guarantee that all
hindrances to industrial activity in
Belgium, in the way of fines and inn
positions should be Immediately re-
moved.
"That there are difficulties in the
way we readily admit. But they are
not insuperable, If the German ad-
ministration in Belgium refuses these
requests, then the allies would be JUS
titled in making an immediate appeal
to all the neutral nations.
"The mute anguish of nation of
whose independence and neutrality
this country has constituted itself the
guardian, appeals to US with piteous
helplessness, and we are convinced
that the whole civilized world win ap-
prove and applaud whatever steps are
taken to give effect to the sugges-
ton outlined above"