New-York tribune., 1921-04-25
American Aid
Saved Million
In Near East
Relief Committee Report for
1920, Forwarded to Pres
ident, Shows $6O,OOO,-
600 Cash, Goods Handled
IL Shipments of Supplies
56l,97O Persons Fed i'm
One of Four Areas Alone:
Help Is Still Needed

More than one million persons arc
living in the Near East to-day who
would have perished had it not been
for American relief, asserts the annual
report of the Near East Relief Com
mittee, forwarded yesterday to the
President and Congress.
Tho report, covering activities for
the year ended December 81, 1920, deals
with the handling of about $50 900. 900
IN cash and merchandise in the follow
ing areas: Constantinople and The ad
joining territory in European Turkey,
Anatolia, Armenia. Cilicia, Kurdistan,
Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Persia,
Trans-Caucasus, including Russian Ar.
menia, and Georgia.
While relief has been given on the
basis of the greatest need to all suf-
fering and dependent people of the
Near East, most Of the work was
among the subject races of the Otto
man Empire, including especially the
Armenians, Greeks, HISTORIANS, Syrians
and Assyrians, the report states.
On account of the political cond
tons and military operations it is diff
cult to obtain complete statistics Of the
entire Near East area for any given
committee has operated sixty hree hos
pitals with 6,522 beds, l2S clinics.
II rescue homes, 229 orphnnages,
accommodating $4,000 children. and
supporting outside of orphanages sc. .O39
other children.
561,97o Given Food
A detailed record in one Of the four
areas reports 56l,97O persons given
food through a large part of the win
ter and spring Of 1920 and 100000 per-
sons supplied with garments sent from
America, exclusive of garments made
in the Near East Relief industrial
shops.
During the year there were seven
teen large shipments of relief supplies
including more than 100000 pounds
of clothing and shoes. The bulk of the
shipping was food, medical and other
supplies.
Referring to Certain grossly false
and misleading reports' concerning
American relief in the Near East, the
report states: "Those who started them
have now recognized the fallacy or un-
representative character of the reports
and have expressed their deep regret
that wrong Impressions were given in
America"
The report recognizes the cooperation
Of the American Red Cross, the Ameri-
can Relief Administration and volun-
teer workers at home aud abroad 1t is
pointed out that major factor in the
relief work in Russian Armenia was
-four, valued at $12,80O0OO, procured
through Herbert Hoover. The Red
Cross. during the year under review
transferred to Near East relief mer-
chandise and medical supplies valued
at 81, 100000, which were of inesti-
mable aid in checking the ravages of
disease during the spring of 1920, the
report states.
Trying to Transfer Support
In conclusion the report says: "The
committee is now endeavoring in every
practicable way to throw upon the gov
ernments or such other responsible
agencies as can be found the support
Of adult refugees. During the year
1921 native workers are reported as
having been employed and as having
gained some degree of self-support in
connection with industrial enterprises
founded or promoted for dstinctively
relief purposes by the committee.
"The committee is endeavoring to
lind homes or other support for as
many as possible Of the rescued girls
and orphaned children, but it seems
inevitable that for a considerable pc
rlod large number of these fatherless
and motherless waits of war must de-
pend upon Near East relief for sup
port. A few millions of dollars wisely
expended at this time In the support
education and molding of these Young
lives will be worth vastly more to the
world than billions of dollars that
otherwise may later be required in
EuppreSsing warfare and strife"