New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-04
The Red Cross Situation
Cooperation Offered in Return fss
knowledge Of Its Activities
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

i o the EDITOR OF Inc
Sir: In a letter to The Tribune on AursA
2 last I called 70 the attention Of the public
tn. controversy between the Red Cross anA
the seventy-four War Charities, and STATED
the case Of the latter. As my letter was
given wide publicity and attracted consider
able attention, IL Is only fair and generous to
the Red Cross. now that IL has Substantially
yielded 10 the wishes Of the war charity
organizations, tina. due public recognition
should be given 10 this action.
In its recent circular to the War Relief
Charities the Red Cross gives the following
assurance:
The Red Cross will accept contributions Of such
supplies Of general nature you have heretofore
been shipping through the war relief clearing
house, and will endesyor To forward them In ae-
cordsnce with the wishes OF the sender, but can
accent them only with the understanding that
where IL Is impossible Improbable " make de-
liveries as designated. the supplies will he distrib-
uted by the American Red Cross in Paris or else-
where. according TO the most urgent needs.
This is substantially all that the War Char.
tiles asked from the very beginning II the
Red Cross will live up to the spirit and letter
of this new assurance, feel quite sure that
every one will be willing, where it Is "impos-
sibe or impracticabe to make deliveries as
designated" by the donors, that the Red Cross
shall distribute according to its best judy
ment and according to the most urgent
needs" This is only reasonable. hope,
however, that for obvious reasons the do
mating societies will be promptly notice
when this has been the case.
am glad to call attention to this decision
of the Red Cross for the further reason
that have received several inquiries from
charity organizations, asking how relief sup
pile. can be sent TO Europe and be distribu-
ted according 70 the wishes OF the donora,
and offers, coming from Paris. have been re-
Gently made TO me to form . new clearing
house, and guaranteeing free transportation
and distribution Of donations independent Of
the Red Cross, according to the wishes Of tbs
donating societies.
Tho previous order Of the Red Cross has
given considerable anxiety to many relief So
cieties, fearing as they have, that they would
have TO go out of business. The duplication
of the machinery of transportation and dis
tribution under a new clearing house organi-
zaton would be pity, and it would seem
now 70 be unnecessary.
It is gratifying to note that the attitude u
the Red Cross is now conciliatory and friend
ly and all that we could ask for
The Red Cross in its circular asks: May
count on the cooperation OF yourself and
your associstes?" "We need your help IL
adds. /, for one, cannot read the first report
Of the Red Cross without feeling a thrill at
the recital of the vast and multiform work
which it is undertaking And surely no one
who is friend Of humanity would be willing
70 hamper it in its splendid endesyor, but
will want to render every help in his power.
On the other hand, would respectfully
but earnestly call the attention OF Mr. Davi-
son to the necessity of helping, in turn. the
War Charities by keeping them informed,
even il only by postal card, OF the exten.
and direction of Red Cross activities in the
field OF each, so that they may know specif-
cally what needs are being covered. In this
way duplication OF effort and waste Of money
will be avoided. At present some, at least, Of
the important charities are not only totally
disregarded in this respect, but they And il
impossible TO discover what specifically tho
Red Cross is doing or processes TO do. They
are obliged, therefore, TO mark time and wait,
though they might usefully be devoting their
money and energy to the relief Of distress
rot covered by the Red Cross. | suspect, too,
that many people are refrainng from an
swering the appeals of war charities for par
tcular relief because of not knowing whether
or not the Red Cross is covering that field
such. say, as Armenian relief
feel quite sure that If the above Assur-
ance of the Red Cross is lived up to, and IL
will take the trouble to keep the societies
posted as to its activities (Which. untortu-
nately, il has too often overlooked), It will
receive from them the help it asks for.
Speaking for my immediate associates and
myself, shall be glad under these condi-
tons to give it our loyal support and will
render any service we may.
MORTON PRINCE,
Chairman Serbian Distress Fund.
Boston, Mass, Oct 2, 1917.