New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-18
Germany R0bbing Poland
of Food, Cecil Charges
Carting Everything Available to Own Country-Says
Britain Faces Such Situation in Passing Relief Sup
plies for Poles and Belgians
fBy Cable 20 The Trisua..l

London, March l7.-Americans nave
heard one side OF the situation in
+ Poland Germany. through its Efficient
publicity organization. has lost no OPP
portunity to turn sentiment against the
Allies by posing as the humanitarian
benefactor Of the stricken Pole. Every
agency at Germany's command has
been employed to spread the impress
sion that Germany is using all her en-
ergies 10 better the economic condi-
tons in Belgium. Poland and Serbia
while Great Britain has used all the
power Of her feet 10 balk these Ger
man efforts.
Generous givers who have been
ready to contribute freely 10 the re-
lief Of the Poles have received con-
tinuously the German assurances that
only Great Britain stood in the way
of such help being utilized for the
amelioration OF suffering.
The entire question has been one Of
anxious consideration by both the
British Cabinet and the Foreign Office.
Lord Robert Cecil to-day gave to The
Tribune an outline Of the conflicting
forces by which the British authori-
ties are confronted.
I've have had many differences Of
opinion" he said. with the United
States and other countries about our
naval policy differences which we
sincerely hope will end quickly in
friendly settlement. But our blockade
Of Germany involves one question
which gives US more anxiety and per-
pleXity than any discussion with neu-
trails. refer TO the effect produced
thereby on friendly populations whose
territory the enemy temporarily occu-
pies. namely. Belgians. Poles and
Serbs. Our action toward Belgium
proves that we are determined to spare
these friendly and innocent popule-
tons as far as possible from the effects
Of our naval policy. but the obstacles
which the enemy places in our path
constitute a continual source Of diff
Guilty
Cites Case of Belgium.
Before dealing with the immediate
question OF Polish relief. ! wish 70
draw attention 20 what actually hap
pened IN the case Of Belgium.
The American Relief Commission
inform Us that they alone feed 325 900
destitute or destitute persons
approximately half the total popula-
ton. We not only placed facilities n
their way. but also allowed them 10 i'm
port bread for the entire population.
even though Il benefits Germans.
Moreover, for the last year we, out Of
our own pocket. paid for practically
the whole commissions imports, now
amounting 10 more than 10000 tons Of
foodstuffs monthly. besides setting
aside a considerable proportion Of the
already overworked British shipping
for transport.
What is Germsny's reply TO this :.
7 hey swamp the world with mass Of
propaganda claiming that they re
formed the Belgian industrial system
that the economic state OF Belgium IS
now nearly normal; that the only OBJ
stacle 10 complete prosperity is or
failure TO allow Belgium free imports
and exports Of manufactured goods.
Naturally. they omit to mention the
fact that the Upited States's Official
statistics show The import into the
United States Of s2.626.440 worth Of
goods from Belgium during 1915. The
point ] wish TO emphasize is that we
know that the industrial reconstruc-
tion Of Belgium means IN German
hands the coercion of Belgian workmen
20 emigratc 20 Germany or enter the
: 7 rHets
20 point 20 the seizure BY the Germans
Of all Of Belgium's cotton and wool nj
the very moment when charitable
America il subscribing hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars for clothing in
behalf Of the destitute. Also witness
the export from Belgium 10 Germany
of every article wherein the Germans
can lay their hands.
Facts the British Face.
Confronted by these facts. how can
the British people help the Belgian peo-
pie? How is the British government
able TO give itself free hand toward
Belgium. which every sentiment die
tates. when on the one hand Germany
.nuglv declares IL has restored Bel
gums economic life, while on the
other hand the relief commission pleads
that half the population is on the bread
Une2 And the latter statement comes
on TOP Of the fact that the commission
has been enabled 10 make many or
r.ngements which have partially safe
ruarded the country's resources from
exploitation and the population from
coercion?
'Ye, this very success OF the com
mission makes the position Of Poland
seem almost hopeless. | asked gener-
Gus American contributors 20 relief
funds TO try TO realize what we have to
face when We are giving our most care
full consideration 70 schemes put be
fore Us for the importation Of food
stuffs into Poland, and under American
commission control.
ave are met by these points: First,