New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-10
Private Organizations Asked
to Recognize Central
Agency in France
Plan Is to Control
All Distribution
Private Contributions Will
Be Requisitioned and Spent
Only Where Needed

PARIS, Sept. 9.--Diffculties which
confront relief work in France and the
advantages of coordination of effort
by all the agencies engaged are out
lined in a joint statement issued here
by Major Grayson Murphy, Red Cross
Commissioner in Europe, and several
prominent American men and women
interested in private relief organiza-
tions.
Among the signers are Edith Whar-
ton, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Tuck, Mrs.
William X. Vanderbilt, Joseph A.
Blake, Mrs. f. w. Shurtlef, Walter V.
+. Berry, Mrs. C.. X. Austin, John
Gardner Coolidge, Mr.. and Mrs. Ben
jamin G. Lathrop, Mrs. X. W. Bliss,
Miss Anna Murray Vail Mrs. Charles
r. Scott and Mrs. Philip p. Berard.
For the Red Cross the signers included
James II. Perkins, Homer Folks, Will
lam Endicott, Winslow S. Pierce and
Carl Taylor.
A warm tribute is paid to the won
derful work done in France and Bel
GUM by private initiative and private
organizations, but the statement points
out that Americas entry into the war
has greatly altered the situation. Ger
tain difficulties nave arisen requiring
new machinery, and it adds, only by
~. ~ &c m :
the necessary results"
Central Control Necessary
The statement then recites the diff
fculties confronting all relief work as
the fourth winter of the war APP
proaches, mentioning more specifically
ocean and land transportation.
Gwen before the entrance of the
United States into the war;" it says,
"the tonnage available was not SUI
fcient adequately to meet the situa-
ton, and the strain put on that trans
portation has been enormously in
creased by the coming Of the United
States army to France. This, in fact, is
the great central factor which compels
the new plans, and the controlling Gle
ment in these plans is the United
States army.
1.-THE army will apportion the avail
able tonnage and railroad transporta-
ton as il deems wise. In view or this
fact it obviously is impossible for the
army administration to undertake 10
deal with the great number OF indl-
vidual relief organizations. IL has
chosen. and the people of the United
States have been requested to consider
the American Red Cross as the central
organization through which relief
work should be carried on by Amerl-
cans in this war"
The statement then points out that
the United States army also has recog-
niZed the Y. NJ. c. A. as essential. IL
and the Red Cross, therefore, are, prop
erly speaking, governmental organiza-
tions, the statement says, and adds:
"Therefore IL has seemed wise that
the Red Cross should not attempt TO
use the limited transportation facilities
at its command TO distribute to points
which are determined in America a
large number of individual contrlbu-
tions, but that il should receive contrl..
buttons from all those individuals and
societies in America that are willing 70
trust their contributions to its care and
distribute them In such places as seem
best TO it and its associated charities IN
France and to such places as the distri-
button facilities at its command make
possible.
Private Societies to Aid
"The Red Cross also wishes TO an
nounce that it in no way desires 10
limit or interfere with the space or IA
cilities which others are able TO pro-
cure, but that it wishes onl to use
those facilities which it is able to OBJ
tain in the way which its oihcers De-
Heye will best enable the society to
carry out the duties with which 1t has
b.en intrusted, and which will best III
in with the needs of our army and Will
hest carry out the desire we all have
in orr hearts to do the greatest good
in the best way.
am order TO do these things we be-
lieve that the best way is, first, for the
Red Cross here, aided by experienced
relief societies, to classify, standardize
and reouisition in the order OF their
;unortance relief supplies which are
needed here, and determine what may
either be purchased on this side or dis
nensed with altogether in order TO save
TRANSPORTATION space and at the same
time I'll the most pressing wants; sec,
ondlv. for the Red Cross at home, aided
by experienced societies and relief or
carnations in America, to provide In
Systematic way for furnish hing the re,
lief supplies so indicated as needed
here and which may not be purchased
here, and for their shipment in the or
dsr of their urgency"