Evening star., 1921-09-04


Of the junkers.
~ X =
RUssIA-American relief for Russia is get
ting under way quietly but swiftly. In his
farewell instructions to Col. Haskell, the newly
appointed field director of the American Relief
Administration work in Russia, Mr.. Hoover
says: II believe American charitable organfza-
tions can provide food for 100000 children,
and can contribute material aid in medical aup->
plies We will, indeed. do everything we can
to strengthen your hands beyond this. but to
meet the whole problem. even that of the
children. after great discount Of current propa-
sanda. is beyond our resources" After direct
ing Col Haskell to cooperate with the work
Of other countries, Mr.. Hoover makes the fol-
lowing statement. which should cause a good
many people to sit up and think:
I'm the matter Of adult relief you
aware that the soviet authorities have still
some resources in gold and other metal 1t
seems to me fundamental that the world should
urge upon them that they should expend these
sums at once in the purchase of breadstuffs
abroad. Indeed. there are surpluses in the
Balkan states that could be made available in
a few days pending imports from farther afeld.
While even these resources will be insufficient
to cover the whole Of the necessities of Russia
they can scarcely expect the rest of the world
to make sacrifices until they have exhausted
their every resource"
What indeed. is to be thought Of a govern
ment which hesitates to drain its treasury
under such circumstances?
The allied relief of Russia commission (or
whatever its true name) appointed by the
supreme council. has been meeting in Paris its
members representing France, Great Britain,
Belgium, Italy and Japan. Walter L. Brown
European director Of the American Relief Ad-
ministration, has been present but has been
careful to make 1t understood that he represents
the American Relief Administration only. not
the American government. It is not clear what
functions the supreme council intended should
be performed by this commission It is. per-
maps. expected to determine those functions for
itself. Apparently 1t will try to keep in touch
with the relief work Of various ORGANIZATIONS
In Russia and keep the several governments
informed concerning 1t, and 1t has been sue-
gested that the several governments might
dispense relief funds through the commission.
Perhaps 1t will undertake to divide Russia into
areas, assigning one to each relief unit: but
whether. in view Of its special limited function
OF 1eedlng children. the American Relief Ad-
mfnistration would fall in with such a scheme.
might seem doubtful. Directive action beyond
such assignment to areas the commission does
not seem to have proposed to itself TIE nnost
important action Of the commission to date has
been to appoint sub-commission of dis.
tinsuished experts to visit Russia for an ex-
naustive inspection and report. The French
doubt that Moscow will allow such an investt-
cation. A refusal might cool the philanthropic
ardor Of several governments
moreover. DR.. Nansen has caused an en-
barrassment. He agreed. on behalf of the
alliance Of European Red Cross organizations
and the credit relief commission of the league
OF nations to allow the soviet authorities to
distribute the relief supplies of these
organizations The Red Cross Alliance has
disavowed the agreement. And there must
be further negotiations, with possibly a hitch.
Dr. Nansen is trying to raise $50, 600 in
loans from European governments against
which the Moscow government offers the
national assets as security Furthermore
MOSCOW consents that the loaning govern
ments contro(efhe disbursement of the loans
1t would seem. that European relief arrange
ments are being bungled and are proceeding
with fatal slowness. while the millions of
hungry sheep look up and are not fed"
X \ X \
NEAR AND MIDDLE EAsT-The situa.
ton in Anatolia is usual. obscure. Dis
patches early in the week from Constanti-
nople reported that the Greek forces sent
across the Salt desert to flank the Turks had
been defeated and separated completely from
contact with the main body; that the main
Greek forces had been hurled back across
the sakaria river; that one of the main Greek
lines Of communication was seriously threat