Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-09-13
:: The Truth About Belgium =:
BY BRAND WHITLOCK

mans had taken as TO the funds to
be used by the Comite National
They had indeed been negotiated
chiefly by Mr.. Heineman with the
Geheimrath Kaufman, and they
seemed ample to cover all forms OF
'secourS,' bJ; when the subject was
again under discussion and these
assurances were recalled, the Ge-
he!mrath Kaufman cited as appli-
cable 10 the situation the old, and
IL would seem 4 very Characters
tic. German provero:
You never eat your food as hot
as you cook it
Ii was a critical moment, and the
problem bristled with difficulties.
There were endless conferences and
interminsble discussions that lasted
over a month-conferenceS a. our
Iega ton with the Belgians, who
asked only 20 be permitted to use
their money to succor the woes o.
the women and children Of the
poor and homeless of their own
stricken land; conferences in the
yellow salon of the Ministere de
lndGstrie. overlooking the park.
where the sun was golden among
spring. with the Baron Won der
Lancken. Count Harrach and usual
IL one Of the Herr Doktors or Herr
Professors.
Baron Won der Lancken was. rea-
sonable ARID when the governor
general went TO Berlin for a few
days. the atmosphere somehow
seemed conducive 10 compromise
ed that the German authorities
should have the right 10 be inform
ed as to what was done by the De-
partment Of Secours.
We had the impression. indeed, at
that time. that the governor general
did not wholly understand the work
OF relief: certainly he did not un-
derstand the organization and the
work OF the c. r. B., for just as
we were beginning to draw sign
OF relief over the settlement of the
difficulties in the C. y. there came
a long telegram from Mr.. Hoover
saving that. an interview with Won
Kissing had been printed in the
stats Zeitung. of New York, say
ing that the work of America in Bel
GUM was not a charity at all, but
a business, il not something worse.
Mr.. Hoover threatened to stop the
whole enterprise-unIess l could see
the old satrap ana have a denial
made.
We had only extracts OF the Of
Tending interview of the governor
general. and when the newspapers
from home had time TO get across
the sea to Belgium nearly month
had elapsed. a month. can accom-
plish wonders in the way Of allay-
ing anger and irritation, and when
AT last we had the amazing state
ment in its fuiness before us, we
were rather glad that we had had
ONLY extracts. and that after several
conversations with the Baron Won
der LauCken. I had been able to OBJ
tain = satisfactory expression from
the governor general and the Incl
dent was already closed What had
offended Mr.. Hoover was the refer
,ence 20 the &. r. Is. What seems
more remarkable in the interview
was the assumption running through
the whole statement that Won Bliss
ing was trying to revive the eco
nomiCaI life of Belgium
There were not only interviews,
but pictures of him benevoleniy<
standing in the Art Museum beside
4 marble statue OF Hercules and the
Hermes of Toraxiteles. or piously
listening to the preaching Of some
German pastor in the Belgian SEN
ate. In the interview he told how
he was ruling Belgium, referring. to
. IL as a country that had been badly
governed-BelgiU with its COM
munaI system. its democracy. its
liberty. its peace. contentment and
prospsrity.-and he spoke OF his ef-
forts to revive the country. to
open the museums. TO encourage
agriculture. etc.
Reopsned Museums Empty
The museums had been opened.
IL was true. but by German order
and against the will of their direc-
to-s-"le Musee des Beaux Arts
the last three days Of the week;
German sentinels with guns and
bayonets were at every door. and
the vast halls were empty, for never
a self-respecting Belgian would en-
ter them so long as he had to pass
German sentinels and rub elbows
with German soldiers within the
museum.
The interview spoke of the re-
sumption of life in Belgium. But
there was no resumption OF life in
Belgium. The people would long
since have starved if America had
not organized the commission and