Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-08-01
GERMANS Begin
Resent CONSENT
BELGIAN RELIEF
Government Officials, How
ever, Uphold Pledge to
Americans
Americans.

London, July 2S-A. J. Hemphill of
New York, treasurer of the Commits
sion for Relief in Belgium, has return
ed from a trip of inspection which
covered thoroughly the operations of
the commission in Belgium and North
ern France, and he expresses himself
to the Associated Press as very proud
i Of the work which the Americans are
doing in the occupied areas.
In order to secure permission to en-
ter Belgium Mr.. Hemphill had to &c
to Berlin, where he spent several days.
He said:
II was greatly impressed while in
Berlin with the difference of opinion
which exists among prominent Ger
mans as to the advisability of permit
ting continuation of the present sys-
tenn of relieving the Belgians. The
shortage of food supplies in Germany
has given rise to considerable criticism
OF the German government action
lin agreeing to the allies demand that
the whole of the native food supplies
in Belgium should be handed over to
the relief organization for the sole use
OF the Belgians. An influential Ger
man section maintains that at least
portion of the native supplies produc-
ed in Belgium are the rightful fruits of
conquest, and that as long as there is
any possibility Of German women and
children and German soldiers being
in want of food, Belgium's native pro-
duction should be confiscated, and the
Belglans left to the mercy of her allies.
Another internal criticism levell-
ed at the German government is that
the policy of permitting relief sup
plies to be distri buted merely prolongs
the passive resistance which is still
practically universal among the seven
million Belgians who are under Ger
man rule. However, despite the
serious opposition on both these
scores, | am confident that more hu-
name policy authorized by the Ger
man Chancellor will continue to pre-
vail.
Distribution in Brussels
"When l got to Brussels my first
impression was that everything was
normal, except the absence of vehicles
owing to the scarcity of horses and
the prohibition Of motors except to a
few. The people are we'll clad, the
shops are open and everyone goes
about his daily life much the same as
in London or New York. At the mar
kets | saw people buying and selling
mostly vegetables-and business be-
ing freely transacted in the ordinary
way. That was on the surface. When
l went to the relief stations where
over thirty per cent of the population,
who are wholly destitute, get their
soup and other provisions, l saw in
the waiting queues, not only the needy
class that one would expect to see, but
well-dressed men, women and chill
drcn. In Brussels and elsewhere the
human lines that daily wait for the
small ration provided by the charity
of the world are marked by this same
sad feature. Destitution is not only
widespread, but there are now on the
bread lines thousands of the upper
classes who never dreamed of coming
to such pass.
at is only after being in Brussels
for little time, and after visiting
Charleroi, Mahnes, Antwerp, Leige and
other places that one realizes how
are first impressions. The
appearance of normality is
sustained only by the fact that relief
to the value of over 100000 pounds
is, so to speak, injected into the coun-
try every month. The external calm
is an amazing tribute to the efficiency |
of the system whereby the relief or
ganization provides and distributes to
this whole nation supplies without
which there would be chaos and un-
thinkable suffering.
Germans Protect Guarantee
"Both in American and England a
good deal of uneasiness somewhat
exists as to the relief sup
plies actually reaching the Belgians. |
/ discussed this point thoroughly with
responsible Belgians and with the
Americans who are supervising the
besides keeping my eyes
open for indications of confiscation
by the Germans. AS a result l am
convince that the relief supplies sent
into Belgium reach, in their entirety,
the Belgian people. Except local in
cidents always remedied, l hear of no
instance whatever of the Germans
breaking their guarantees to respect
the food which the Allied Governments
allow to be brought through the
blockade.
~ was treated with the UTMOST con-
sideration by the German officials and
I was impressed with the fact that
THERE Is d SCluAIC OOoiAO WIG pew
of the Landsturm officers who govern
Belgium to get along with the situation
with as little friction as possible.
"Thc Belgians still live from day to
day in the undimmed expectancy Of
regaining their independence. might
almost say they live on hopes, because
if that wonderful spirit were not there,
the scanty ration, which is all the re-
lief organization can supply, would be
inadequate to prevent increased dis
ease and mortaliay. Brave is not the
word for them.
"Under ordinary circumstances the
population would be pauperized by
free feeding of the unemployed. This
is not the case in Belgium. =! h
..In one canteen which ! inspected al
man made a complaint. There was no
meat, he said in his soup. He had
long given up the idea Of being given
meat as part Of his daily meal, but
if he was to live, he declared, he must
ret some of the nourishment that