Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-29
American AID e Europe


In spite OF the Democratic spsseh-
makers, the United states y not sss'
ing Europe such . cold shoulder a.
the public is being led to believe. nor
have the American people entirely
withdrawn their aid and interest in
the suRsrinss Of the. unfortunate
millions who happenSd TO live IN the
path Of the war. In spite Of the nom
participation OF this country in the
league Of nations. "Amerisa has been
doing more for the relief and recon-
struction Of Europe than Ill the other
powers put together" So writes q
correspondent in the London Spec
tator, an Australian BY birth who
has been travelling on the continent
and has put down on paper the story
OF some things he has seen and
learned,
Being an Australian, he belongs ia
neither the Republican nor to the
Democratic party; he does not even
say whether he believes or does not
believe in the league of nations: he
says there il an impression In many
minds. that America has failed Europe
and has withdrawn from the great
work of reconstruction, and lnotiy-
ated only, apparently, by desire for
fair play. the correspondent seeks tl
dispel this impression which he be-
lieves to be erroneous.
During a trip which has covered
most of the countries between Asia
Minor and Denmark, and between tha
Channel and the Baltic provinces, he
has found social service agencies
from America working along I'M
ostentatiously, but very practically
and efiieiently. in the interests of this
people suffering from the effects Of
the war. There 10 no regard fol
nationality, race. religion or politics
but simply the recognition Of human
need. The American is positive
practical and constructive. and any.
thing that touches his sympathy
makes a strong appeal to his ideal
ISM"
He praises most of all the child
welfare work, originated by Herbert
Hoover in Belgium during the war
This work now has dropped out Of
public sight, he says, but has gone
on increasing in magnitude and IN
far-reaehing benefits. As now organ
ICED the service is supervising this
feeding of between 100000 and s.
5000 children every day, week afte,
week. month after month, and all al
voluntary agency. If this were tn:
| only American contribution to recon
struction, it would have been q
mighty one, in the opinion of THU
observer, but he goes on to mention
and describe the work Of numerous
other American relief organizationl
which are also doing things on biz
American scale for the war sufferers
Among them he puts prominently tn
relief administration warehouse.
which receive and distribute eeenena,
! ically foodstuff parcels paid for b,
friends in this country; the Red
Cross with its medical and nursing
aid and it's social relief work; the
Friends service committees. the Y
NJ. c. A., and the Y. W. c. A.
All these agencies, which are velun.
tary, demonstrate that America II
not standing outside, has not aban'
doned Europe. Is not entirely cold
and self-centered, but is genereusl,
willing to lend practical aid of thu
kind most likely to be useful and ap
preciatsd to the innocent victims Of
| lbS WILL ApAb ~ tWC SonSSh9bSu VI
the Spectators correspondent.
Perhaps America does not need thi,
defense from the antipodes. and Per
haps she does, while the, politicians
are at so great pains to make tn.
American people believe that the opl,
way to aid Europe IL by signing Z
certain unmodihed and unavoidable
treaty and covenant. 1t is true thai
the big things are always done quiet
ly and that people who are very bus,
have not time to tell what they arr
going to do or what they are doing
Maybe 1t is good to learn from a dis
/ interested observer that we Amer.
leans are not SO bad as we ars
painted Doesn't it give. you a COM
Portable feeling somewhere inside t.
know that American money. handled
with American business-like skill II
making the world brighter for some
European babies?
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