The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-09-01
.GOVERNM'T TAKES
NO PART IN CHARITY
Not Identified with Russian
Relief Beyond Releasing
of American Prisoners
MIGHT GIVE SOVIETS
SOME ADVANTAGE

Presence of Foreign Officials Would
Give Appearance of Recognition
american Relief Will Not BE Admin
istered by Europeans.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Despatch to The Reformer,)
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, Sept 1. The
United States government is making it
clear to the governments of Europe that
the American relief administration which
has undertaken to help Russia is a nom
governmental institution and that it
would be preferable if the whole relief
project were stripped of any govern
mental aspect whatsoever.
The supreme council recently voted to.
cooperate with the United States gov
eminent on Russian relief believing the
American had been negotiating with the
Soviet government This misunderstand-
ing arose because Secretary Hoover is
member of President Hardmg's cabinet
and is at the same time the head of the
American administration. Mr.. Hoover
entered the Harding cabinet with the I'M
Outstanding that he be permitted to carry
on the relief work in Europe and Mr..
Harding consented to the arrangement
Why L. $. Keeps Out.
But even if there were no doubt about
the absolute separation between the
Washington government and the Amer
lean relief administration which is a
consolidation of charitable organizations.
the European governments would prob
ABLY have proposed governmental relief.
There are very substantial reasons why
the United States government thinks the
relief project should be kept as far IA
possible out of the realm of government,
In the first place. the chances of breed
ing misunderstanding in Russia by per-
hitting an allied expedition of agents to
rove around Russia under the pretense of
studying relief but with the object of get
ting data wherewith TO handle the polit-
zeal Situation are recognized here.
Secondly, the Soviet government has
been endeayOring for some time to enter
into diplomatic relations with other gov
ernments on one pretext or another so as
10 give the Impression inside Russia that
the Soviet program is being recognized
throughout the world. Those who believe
the Soviet methods must be abandoned
think the quickest way TO insure the es-
Establishment of a good government in Rus
STA with which the rest of the world can
deal is to leave the situation to the Rus
side interference,
Russians Expected Recognition.
When the relief project was first
preached to America even the Russians
had an idea that il would mean the re-
sumption of relations with the American
government. The department of state did
take a hand in the proceedings to the ex-
tent of advising the American relief ad-
ministration that the Washington gov
or T4ron oil
released before relief work should begin
and this wish was respected. Now, how
ever. the American government takes no
further part in the negotiation or the ex-
ecutiOn of relief plans. All the Amer
lean charitable organizations interested
in Russian relief have been united under
the direction of General Haskell
1t is the firm intention of the Ameri-
hcan relief administration to cooperate
with any allied effort but under no cir
cumstances will American charities be
turned over to Europeans for adminiStra-
ton. Each nation wanting to help Rus
Sia can do so on its own responsibility
and will find America ready to co-ordi-
nate so as to prevent over tapping. But
the men who have raised funds from the
American people have a responsibility to
the donors which the American relief adj
ministration feels it cannot ignore.
Purposes NOnpOlitical.
Americas purposes in Russian relief
are wholly nonpolitical. The United
States government understands that the
American relief administration is not in
| terested in carrying on any propaganda
for or against SovietiSm or with respect
TO any other political phase of the Rus
sian situation. There are those who
think the European habit of mixing in
| ternatiOnal politics with relief projects
would find expression in the present in
stance and that tie-up of the American
| machinery with that of the European
governments would mean a loss to the
American project in sentimental value
and funds might not be as readily obtain
able.
American Relief Underway.
While the European powers have just
appointed a committee to go to Russia
and study the situation, the American
relief project is underway. Fifteen men
| have been sent into all parts of the coun.
| try to report on the true state of affairs
| Estimates vary as to the number of per.
sons in distress all the way from ten to
| fifty million. Secretary Hoover is in
clined to believe that the Russian prob
lem has gone far beyond the reach OF
charity 1t is said that 100000 chill
dren are starving. The American admin