Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-02
j. S. TAKES FIRST
STEP IN RELIEF OF
RUSSIAN FAMINE
Hoover Starts Machinery When
Assured American Prisoners
Will Be Released.
DlPL L0MATIC ATTITUDE
REMAINS UNCHANGED
Measures Declared to Be HUI
manitarian, With No Rela-
ton to Official Policy.
Ry Ralph 10. Turner.

United News STAFF Cor,@spon,tcut
WASiiINGTON. Aug. 1.-The frs,
steps have been taken toward Amer
lean relief OF the Russian famine.
but the attitude OF the Harding adj
ministrati"n toward Tn. Soviet re-
gime-politically, AUTOMATICALLY and
economicaily-remains unchanged.
with definite assurance from the
Soviet government that American
prisoners would be- released. uerbcr,
Hoover. head OF the American relief
administration. immediately started
the machinery Of his organization in
Europe
No Relation tn Policy.
This action. which provides the
closest contact that has existed thus
far between the United States and
Soviet Russia. already is provoking
inquiries as to whether the relic.
move may not prove an entering
wedge" 10 Il formal relationship be-
tween the United States and the Sow
let government
In administration quarters. inquiry
meets the emphatic answer that the
very conditions now calling for re-
lief are the result Of Soviet rulc-the
collapse Of Il nation" il declare. to
be IN" present result Of the pro
gressive impovcrishmcnJ" which Sec
retary Hughes mentioned in his re-
cent p:on"umccmcnt OF American pol.
icy toward trade with Russia. The
present relief movement, II is cN-
pla ined. ie wholly Humanitarian and
has no relation To official policy. en-
ccpt in so far as Hoovcr's Stipula-
ton for the release of imprisoned
Americans was indorscd by the State
Department.
Cables European Director.
Hoover has cabled Walter Lyman
Brown. European director OF the
American relief administration. TO
proceed Immediately from London to
Riga.
1T is q: course 10 DE assumed"
Hoover said that the prisoners will
have been delivered out of Russia as
demanded by the state Department
before YOU open discussions. You
will recognize that such n course is
the most primary evidence Of willing
ness 10 assure life and property of
our staff"
Hoovcr's cable followed a message
from Nj kameneff. chairman of the
commission Of the all Russian CEN
trail executive committee for helping
the famine stricken population, ac-
ccptinr the conditions stated in The
original offer. The reply was trans
mitted through Maxim Gorky. who
has acted as intermediary through al!
the negotiations.
Kamenem's reply said:
To Fix Conditions.
The Eus sian government has ac-
Mr. Hoover. made in the name of the
American relief administration, and
finds this proposal quite acceptable as
a basis, including the release OF the
American prisoners. The Russian
government considers it desirable rs
soon as possible to fix the precise
conditions on which this aSsociat tion
will begin immediate relations OF its
humane intentions TO guarantee the
feeding, medical treatment and cloth
Ing of million children and in
valids."
The message requested that Dircc-
tor Brown come Immediately to Mos
COW. Riga or Reval to carry out the
negotiations.
The relief administration is ready
TO begin its work. as soon as the
Americans are safely out of Russia.
Food and other supplies will he sent
(Continuel on Dapp col L