The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-11
State Department Sanctions
Denial of Such RumOrs
by Minister
PEOPLE IN GENERAL
HAVE FAITH IN ARMY
And Are Neither Rebellious Nor on the
Point of Starvation Says Swedish En-
voy-Kaiser' Military Party Still in
Control for All of Rumors otherwise.

WASHINGTON, Sept. ia warn
ing to the American people not to be
misled into believing that the German
people are on the verge of starvation
and revolution or into the delusion
that the German military power has
vet cracked has been authorized by the
state department in the form of a
signed statement from Ira Nelson Nor
ris of Chicago, the American minister
to Sweden, who is in Washington on
leave of absence.
The Importance of the statement is
70 be found in the fact that it was is
sued officially with the sanction of the
department. Unless the statement
made by Minister Morris reflected the
opinion of this government. no such
Ganction would have been given.
II is believed that the statement was
put out not only to controvert errone-
aus notions that may have arisen in the
minds of Americans as a result of the
flood of stories, mostly based on state
controlled newspapers, regarding the in
ternal situation in Germany, but also
~ an initial step by this government
n the direction of checkmatng the
Berlin government 8, move in the di-
reetion of peace offensive
As American Minister to Stockholm
Mr.. Morris has been in an exceptions
ally good position to gather informa-
ion regarding conditions in Germany
| His statement follows:
u have heard reports in the press
since my return home to the effect that
Germany is on the verge of starvation
and find this TO be the opinion of
many with whom | come in daily con
tact. There can be no question that
there is a shortage of most of the essen
'ials of life, but to state that this Dor
ders on the verge of starvation is erro.
ncous.
''There is no doubt that in many
| arts of Germany there is a marked
scarcity of food and that the civilian
| population has been reduced to the min
mum ration. but it still receives suf
| ficient for existence Conditions are bet
ter in the rural districts, particularly
rs regards the farmers and landowners
wen in the northern part of Germany
where the scarcity is most felt. In tn,
7outhern part conditions improve still
more, and resorts and hotels there still
serve meals at moderate prices.
I'm the case of the army, there ha
been but slight deprivation; this ha
been fed at the expense of the civilian
population.
I'm German Poland, in manufacture
ing districts, and in more densely popu
'ated parts there has been suffering
quite visible in the emaciation of tn
people which has naturally impaired tn
efficiency of the German workman, VIII
no longer possess full vigor, but it
mistake to believe that this has pre-
'oked a strong current toward revolu
lion. or any general lessening of tn
loyalty Of the people. They still posses
faith in the invineibility of the mil
tary power, being purposely kept i
. ignorance of the real conditions o
he Western front, not only as regard
German reverses, but also the full 81!
nificance of Americas entry into I'll
| war.
1T is to the advantage of our com