The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-04-30
LOVE THY ENEMY!
Plans Relief Work 10
Help Alien Enemies.
No Treaty Back of It-Simply
Matter of Humanity.

Washington, April 30.-Relief work
among INDECENT enemy aliens Will De
directed by the legations OF SWltzer-
land and Sweden, representing
spectiveiy Germany and Austro-Hun-
garian interests, according TO Secre-
| tary LansingS announcement pun
| lished here today.
. The work will be done with the CO.
operation and approval of the Amer
| lean government.
Needy families of informed aliens
will be given relief direct from the
| legation funds, while law abiding en-
emv aliens who have suffered because
| of their status will be cared for by a
national committee of Americans CO.
operating with the legations and their
consular offices.
| Secretary Lansing has announced
the arrangeme in this statement:
I'm the interests of safety and well
| fare of this country, it has been found
! necessary from time to time to re-
strict the movements and fields of
employment of enemy aliens. In
some cases these restrictions have
worked hardships on enemy aliens
who in all respects have shown
| themselves friendly to the United
States, but who, owing to the acct
dent of birth and war conditions,
have been unable to change their
status as such and have of necessity
/ become objects of charity. Likewise,
the families of those enemy aliens
visable to intern are often deprived of
| their means of livelihood and they
| also become dependent on the char
| ity of others.
In Hands of Legations.
| "In order to meet this condition, the
| legation of Switzerland and the lega-
ton of Sweden, in charge, respective
~ Of IL
| interests in the United States, have,
with the approval and cooperation
| of this government undertaken to sys-
tematize and supervise all the relief
that may be given to needy enemy
aliens, wherever and however stu
| ated thruout the country In the
case of the interned enemy aliens and
their families. the legations have
/ agreed to supply all the relief from
their own funds, limiting such relief tc
what is found after careful investiga.
ton to be essential minimum.
1.-The case of the law-abiding enem,
aliens has presented a more complies
problem. This it is proposed to meet
by the formation of a national com.
mittee, composed of American citi
Zens. which, in cooperation with the
legations of Switzerland and Sweder
and the consuls under their jurisdic
ton. will investigate all cases of dis
tress among this class and will contro
the collection and distribution of al
funds that may be subscribed for tn,
purpose of their relief. 1t will, O.
| course, have local committees workins
under it wherever the need of sucl
committees is felt and will render &C
counts of its activities to the proper
| authorities.
Accords With War Principles.
81 feel confident that the intelligen
and controlled relief of enemy alien
in distress in accordance with the pro
posed methods is humanita ria
measure in accord, with the spirit il
which we have undertaken to carr,
out this war"
There is no obligation in existin,
treaties for such trea tment of enem,
| aliens as proposed. In Germany ant
Austria many such have been detained
and most of them are largely de
pendent for support upon the foo
supplies sent in thru the Red Cross O.
other organizations.
In the case of enemy aliens VIII,
are now informed, the United States il
liable for the cost of their maintenance,
as in the case of any law breaker O.
suspect The Swiss and Swedish Iega
tions may supply them with som,
small articles or foods not provided b,
the internment camps administrations
The activities of the legations will
not extend in any way to the com
paratively few prisoners of war in thi
country. The Hague treaties proyid,
that the cost of their maintenance,
shall be assessed against the enem,
countries upon the conclusion of pea ce
Former Lawton Mayor Dead
Lawton. Okla, April 30.-Henr,
Boyle. former mayor of Lawton. wa.