Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-23

ANA the return OF our ENJOYS.
One morning. from the unexpected
direction of Berlin. came tele-
gram from Mr.. Gerard saying that
the British government had agreed
- let food come into Belgium pro-
viced II was sent by the American
embassy in London TO the Ameri-
ssn legation in Brussels. So there
vas hopet We waited another week;
then 1 had a bundle OF kilograms
that had come by way OF The
Hague. another sign of ameliora-
ton, showing that communication
by way of The Hague and Antwerp
had been restored
One OF the kilograms was from
our ambassador in London. DR..
Page. who said that in pursuance of
our request for assistance. he had
asked Mr.. Herbert Clark Hoover 10
organize a committee to raise funds o
and TO purchase food for the Bel
gfan civil population. There was a
telegram also from Mr.. Hoover.
known to me then only as the Amer
lean who had been at the head Of the
committee formed IN London TO as
stst in repatriating Americans
whom the food OF war had over
y
hcarteninE response; Mr.. Hoover
said that he had organized the COM
mittee. which would set up at once
the machinery necessary TO the
purchase and shipment Of the food;
that the organization had been
named the American Commission
for Relief in Belgium; that it would
be composed exclusively of Ameri-
cans. and that. in accordance with
the condition laid down by the Brit
ish government. the food would be
shipped to me as American minister
at Brussels, under the American
flag. I sent a telegram expressing
the gratitude OF the Belgian people,
of the Comfte National. and OF my
self, for this most generous response
TO our appeal. a response in which
I could have my own patriotic
pride and satisfaction: but 1 asked
that my friend and colleague the
Marquis OF Villalobar. be included
as patron in a relation identical
with my own. and called attention
to the efforts he had made to aid the
great work And this was done
There was another telegram. from
Gibson, asking that a thousand Ia
bells in German. with the authorize
ton OF the government, be sent at
once TO Rotterdam TO be placed on
the shipments OF food about to be
sent in. This had an encouraging
and practical sound. and 1 could at
once bear the good news to the gen.
tleuien OF the Comite National
The next afternoon. at last. to my
delight the Baron Lambert well
groomed and smart as ever, came
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news, and far too modest over the
success Of his mission. Messrs.
Heineman and FTancqui were to ar
rive in Brussels that evening; Glib
son was staying on IN England
Weeks before. the COmite Nation
Al had sent Mr.. Willard K Shaler,
for whom as an American citizen
We had been able to secure authori-
zation from the Germans TO leave
Belgium. 20 London 10 buy food. In
those days travellers had to make a
great detour around by Maestriche
to get out OF the country. and after
I had succeeded in having him re-
leased from the Kommandantur at
Liege, where he had been held two
days as a spy, Dir. Shaler was al
lowed to leave and TO resume his
journey 20 London Now he return
ed: he had been able TO buy wheat
for the Comite National, but had not
been able to obtain permits for its
export He could give US more de-
tails OF the almost insuperable diff
ficulties that lay in the way OF the
prodigious enterprise we had under
taken, difficulties which, had we
been able to foresee them, would
have deferred us from the attempt
We were still in a state OF limo
cence in those days, still living in
the western world of reason and
helpfuIness. We were soon to learn
of another world, but we did not
know il then We thought that If we
could procure enough food to last
over winter our troubles would be
ever:
However, on Saturday. October ;.
there arrived at the legation a good
looking young American. just grad
uated from Harvard, a lad with
clear eyes and a strong. square jaw.
Mr.. Edward Curtis. \ grandson OF
George William Curtis He came
through from Rotterdam with let
ters from Captain Lucey saying that
the first shipment OF food had ar
rived He was a welcomed guest,
this quiet. seif-restrained boy. who.
the first representative OF the COM
mission TO arrive in Belgium. was
TO be the last to leave.
The c. r. 3.
Early in November Gibson return
ed from the Oyssee that had taken
him to Havre and TO that little cor
ner OF Flanders left to Belgium
where. IN a summer cottage in the
bleak sand dunes by the sea, he
had seen the king and the queen.
living in the midst Of that austere
scene, with cold November winds