Evening star., 1921-08-20
RELIEF. AGREEMENT
BETWEEN AMERICA
AND RUSSIA SIGNED
Task of Aiding Famine and
Disease Stricken viii Start
at Once.
EXPECT WORK TO LEAD
OCLOSER RELATIONS
Concessions Never Before Granted
Any Foreign Organization Are
Allowed United States.

Any Foreign Organization Are
Allowed United States.
By the Associated Press.
RIGA, August 20. The agreement
between the United States and Rus
sia providing for American relief for
the famine stricken districts of Rus
sia was signed. at 1880 o'clock this
morning by Walter Lyman Brown,
European representative Of the Amer
ican relief administration, and Maxim
Litvinoff. representative Of the Rus
sian famine committee.
Hope that the signing Of the agree
ment would lead to further relations
between Russia and America was ex-
pressed in speeches made by M. Lit
vinon and NJ. Meirovitz. the Letvian
premier
Mr. Brown confined his remarks to
formal words of thanks and the ex-
preston of the hope that the agree
ment would result in the saving Of
lives.
Transportation VIII BE Free.
All relief shipments will be trans
ported free Of charge to points Sc
lected by the Americans, who will
have absolute control of distribution.
1t is the plan to restrict relief meas
ures to those people who are in actual
distress and to prevent government
employees and men in the army and
navy from coming into possession of
supplies.
The Russian famine committee will
cooperate with the American relief ad-
ministration. and the Americans will not
operate In districts where the Russians
are able to provide rations. Race, creed
and political status will be forgotten.
and reports Of the work being done will
be given the world without interference
by the soviet government. Observers
here have declared the agreement con-
fers upon the American relief adminis-
tration facilities never before granted
any foreign organization by a Russian
government.
Russia is by the terms Of the contract
made the beneficiary Of far,reachins
program, which includes not only pro-
viding food for the people of the famine
ing pf epidemlcs- The task .of rrsgesst.
ing the outbreak Of contagious diseases
among the fugitive thousands who have
1se tFss aile Iastr ! heHee. 9 y ! fensidsssa &
districts and fhers as sspsafea ~. e vas,soas
danger Of epidemics such as have in the
past swept away myriads Of victims and
reached distant parts Of the continent.
Orders for Shipments.
1t is understood orders have already
gone to Hamburg, Danxig and New York
directing that relief,shtps be loaded with
food and medicines for Russia. Actual
work In Russia may possibly commence
In little more than q week
POLITICAL and commercial activities will
be outside the realm of the workers
duties. and any viola tion Of this clause
OF the agreement may be cause for ex-
pulsion from Russia upon proofs being
submitted to the directors Of the relief
work. All Americans engaged In feed
ing and caring for the femme sufferers
will enjoy diplomatic rights.
Committee PefsonneI.
Phillip Carroll of Portland, Ore,
will at least temporarily head the
work OF feeding the starving people
of Russia. task the American Relief
Administration considers the greatest
it has yet faced. Walter L. Brown
European director of the administra-
ton, announced today that Mr.. Car
roll would lead the first party Of re-
leave here for Moscow on Thursday
next. Mr.. Carroll. who has been with
the administration two years, made
an excellent record by his work In
Germany. South Russia and Serbia. 7
nalS TN i, other linen members Of the first
Portland. who has had experience
with the relief administration in iPo-
land and Lithuania; E. G. Neurland of
California. who comes from a post in
Austria; Carlton G. Bowen. Rhodes
scholar. who was with the first
American relief workers in Belgium
and VINO later was in Hungary, and
Will. G. Shanrons Of Denver. who has
worked for the relief administration
in Poland and Czechoslovakfa.
yxyilr
with his secretary. leaving to Capt.
John Miller, head Of the relief, ad-
ministratiOn in the BaltU. states. the
! remainder of the task Of handling
the big Riga base.
Free Entry Granted.
With the exception Of Americans de-
tafned in Russia at any time since
1917. for whom permission from the
soviet government, must be obtained,
free entry into Russia Of any Of the
American personnel is to be allowed
under the agreement signed today.
Non-American personnel, such as in
terpreters. must be approved of be-
fore entering Russia, but freedom
and protection of movement on
American relief administration bust
ness within Russia is to be granted
all. The relief administration has
complete freedom in the selection OF
its local personnel and also the or
ganizatioN of distribution committees
On the latter. however. it was agreed
that-local governing bodies should be
represented.
Free; transportation and free and
preferred use of the telegraph and
other means of communicationa are to
be allowed and the food shipments OF
| the American organization are to
have the same transport priority as is
gJanted the Russian relief organiza-
tons. J
The soviet government will supply
the pecessary storage for foodstuffs
| and transportation to distributins
points. 1t also will pay virtually ali
| expenses, except the actual salaries
| and expenses Of the American relief
personnel. t{4iri'~
Adequate Guard Promised.
| Adequate guarding Of the food ship
| ments and reimbursement in gold or
| kind for food misused is promised in
| the agreement by the bolsheviki, Ali
food will remain the property. Of the
relief administration until II il
actually consumed. -
After long hesitation the bolsheviki
also have agreed to the general relief
administration principle that no
individual receiving American rationl
shall be deprived of such local
supplies as are given the rest of the
population. Where the soviet Is able
to ration the people. the Americana
| are to grant, only supplemental,
feeding. -.
freedom from soviet government,
relief administration ID the apppinf.
ment Of its local machinery, while
the soviet will provide nece1Sasy
: (Conf nfinued an poDa fyol,vSnn 4 \ z