Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-07
No Agreement
for Polish RELIEF
HAS YET BEEN REACHED Be
TWEEN THE BELLIGERENTs
AGREEMENT is REMOTE
ImpracticabIe to Do Anything of a
Systematic Order Until Some Def
mite Conclusion is Arrived at.

eign Office to Herbert C. Hoover
chairman of the American commission
for Relief in Belgium, and the ca
Diagrams exchanged between the Po-
lish relief societies of Chicago and
Premier Asquith, which indicate that
no agreement has vet been reached be-
tween the belligerents for the relief of
the civic population of Poland
Supp1ementing this correspondence
The Associated Press has been given
letter from Mr.. Hoover, which result
ed in the reply published by the for
eign office. The correspondence on
the subject leaves the problem of feed
ing Poland unsettled and confirms the
opinion in well-informed relief cir
cles here that any agreement which
would enable relief to be carried on is
so remote as to make it extremely
improbable.
Hoover's Letter to Sir Edward.
Mr.. Hoover's letter to Sir Edward
Ghey, dated December %, follows:
Sir: Knowing your keen desire to
mitigate in every possible way human
suffering arising out of the war, r
feel justified in bringing before you a
suggestion in behalf of the civic popu-
lation of Poland. I attach hereto
petition which the commission has re-
ceived from the large and representa-
tive relief committee in Warsaw and
also a report made as a result of per-
sonal investigation at our instance by
OT- vernon hGllOSS, lately O1-
rector in Belgium of our work there
Misery and Despair.
mo added words of mine can dark
en- the picture of misery and despair
which these statements do, depicting
as they do what may be the fate of Bel
gium but for the relief afforded under
International auspices, with your eanr-
est support. I have had some in
formal conversation with the German
authorities who have assured me that
there are cereals and potatoes avail
able in Poland and elsewhere from
which by mobilization and organized
distribution some sort Of minimum
ration can be provided. Other items
of a dietary do not exist in Poland
and they areAcritically necessary to Z
preserve health to the strong and life
to the weak and to forefend from the
whole population already incipient
famine and disease. The shortage of
these particular commodities in Ger
many leaves no hope Of help fof Po-
land from that quarter.
Protection Viii Be Afforded.
81 am assured by the German au-
thOrities that protection will be afford
ed to local and imported supplies for
the exclusive use of the civilian popu-
lation and also that every facility will
be afforded this commission in its task
of organization and distribution under
proper guarantees.
''It appears to us that deficient fats,
beans, some breadstuffs, etc, together
with condensed milk for children, can
be obtained on1S %y imports from ov-
erseas for which there would seem
to be route practicable from the
western hemisphere to Sweden, with
traCs-shipment thence via Danzig or
Libau. We would not undertake such
a task without the approval and CO.
operation of the allied governments.
Provisions EooI GunnI;ae
TN making provision for food sup
plies for these people we should need
not only to rely on charity, but to as
semble all the economic resources of
Poland and its institutions in much
the same manner as has been done in
Belgium and we should need the per-
mission of His Majestys government
to facilitate exchange and banking op-
erations.
Gravity of the Situation.
''The painful gravity of the situation
in Poland cannot be gainsaid, nor
need 1 apologize for the interest this
organization has taken in the Polish
people, in addition to our other very
grave responsibilities. We have no
desire to add to our other burdens,
but if fourteen months of service in
Belgium have commended US to the
various belligerent governments, it is
out duty to use the confidence thus ac-
quired in behalf of the Polish people
and / wish to add that If the allied
governments are prepared to assent
to such relief measures and If any
other institution can be summoned to
undertake their execution, this COM
mission would be glad to give any
advice arising out of it's experience,
or alternatively, we should be glad to
incorporate such other body in any
organization might set up
Sir Edward Grey's Letter.
Sir Edward Grey's letter to Mr..
Hoover, given out by the foreign Of
fee for publication, follows:
Dear Mr.. Hoover: have careful
ly considered your letter of Decem-
Der regarding the proposed scheme
for the reliem of Poland. In the face
OF accumulation evidence of German
and Austrian acquisitions in Poland.
some mention of which you will find in
the enclosed telegrapEic correspond
ence with Polish organizations in the
United States, 1 fear it would be inn
possible to enter into any agreement
with you in regard to any scheme of
relief until the German and Austrian
governments have prohibited the ex-
port of all foodstuffs shall not be
drawn upon to maintain the occupying
armies.
IF, and when. this was done II
might be possible to come to an ar
rangement with you allowing of the
importation of certain articles in Po-
land IN return for undertakings on the
part of the German and Austrian gov
ernments to supply an adequate ra-
ton and other necessary articles and
to give You a free hand in the distri-
button of stocks of foodstuffs thus
made available
"But prohibition Of export ana the
guarantees mentioned above must be
regarded as conditions precedent to
any discussion, since these measures
are demanded by the situation now ex-
listing quite independently Of the oues-
ton of imports and the fact that they
have not yet been put into force con-
stitutes evidence that the German and
Austrian governments will never CO..
operate in any %ork undertaken in the
interests Of the population of Po-