The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-31
STARVING EUROPE'S
SOLE HOPE is IN U. S.
Porter Emerson Browne Calls
Central Countries a Howl
ing Mass Of Horror
SPEEDY RELIEF NEEDED
Bolsheviki Prepare for An
other Polish Invasion, He Says
Contrast in Rumania.

A dismally discouraging portrayal or
conditions in central Europe, with the
activities of American relief agencies
standing out as the only bright spot,
like the high lights in an otherwise
drab canvas. was given yesterday by
Porter Emerson Browne. author and
playwright. recently returned from a
ten weeks tour of Austria, Hungary.
Rumania, Jugo-Slavia and parts Of Ger
many.
Although he went abroad in a private
capacity Mr.. Browne has submitted
a brief report of conditions as he OBJ
served them to the European Relief
Council, and will supplement this later
with another which will embrace con-
structive suggestions
ut is bowling mass of horror, and
If one ever let's the human side OF the
situation overcome one he's gone" Mr.
Browne said yesterday to newspaper
men. 1T is hard to say which is in the
worse plight, the peasant class or the
city dwellers." Mr.. Browne was speak
ing particularly of the cities of Vienna,
Budapest, Prague and Warsaw. Be
cause OF the economic conditions result
ing from the impractical boundary lines
there is not even distribution of food
stuffs. Transportation has Broken down
almost entirely and the peasant, II he
wanted to, is unable to get his produce
to market, and in cases where he does
he gets nothing for it"
The Russian Bolshevili. Mr.. Browne
said. are massing now on the Polish
frontier for another invasion toward
Warsaw. and the people of all the af-
fiicted countries are at the mercy OF
the peace conference and will remain
so until economic boundaries. rather
than ethrographical or chronological
lines, are drawn and recognized.
All Children Know Hoover.
But every youngster in central Eu-
rope knows who Herbert Hoover Is
and proffers thanks to every American
visitor just because he's an American.
It's the one bright CLEAN that pierces
the aura of utter desolation and dis
couragement that overcomes one who
witnesses the plight of those unfor-
tunate people," Mr.. Browne went on.
It's worth lot, the memory of seeing
q group of half starved youngsters GO
ing after a Hoover meal of rice and
cocoa In feeding station that used to
be the motion picture theatre for the
children of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
ut is impossible to describe the suf-
fering and poverty. especially in Aus
tria, Hungary and Poland. Vienna and
Budapest are like two once beautiful
women slowly dying of tuberculosis.
Warsaw. pale and shabby. fear filled
of the DEVILS nightmare of Bolshevist
invasion, girds herself dumbly to carry
on The confusion of finance makes
business impossible. Industry Is prac-
tically dead. There is little trade ex-
cept by barter.
Those who guide the hand of charity
will tell you as you stand with them
amid dying and youth hungry unto
death that there is no longer chance
or a reason to save the old-they are
no longer economically valuable or pos
sible-and they ask pathetically II you
don't think that something can be done
for the children. No one can do this,
they say except America. for all the
other countries are too poor. Only
America can feed them, and If America
does not
what Them you ask.
by spring they will all be dead
cit is the same answer, always, every
where.
THE reason is that the overloaded,
overdelicate machinery OF modern busi-
ness, developed to n point where 1t is
no longer Independent, but interdepend-
ent, has broken down under the stress
of falling countries and unbalanced ex-
change"