New-York tribune., 1921-03-14
Herring Trails


'Feed Russia" says The Nation to
Mr.. Hoover, and in the same issue
also pleads for the relief of starving
Ireland. And having a stock of
sympathy left the good Nation tear
fully laments the herring of the
North Sea swim uncaught by Brit
ish fishermen because shipments to
Soviet Russia are barred. Rather un-
fortunate is the selection of herring
to make the point, for the herring
sometimes is used in making false
trails. Better have mentioned cod
or haddock.
However this may be, Thomas II.
Dickinson, in The Weekly Review,
examines with some care the claims
OF Russia and Ireland for food relief.
with particular reference to the
question of whether either can lodge
responsibility on the outside world
for food shortage. His source book
Of evidence, he says, is any compen-
dunn Of world agriculture or world
commerce. 1t appears that both
countries are normally large ex-
porters of food, and that no prohibi-
ton from without has been laid on
their peoples against planting and
/ harvesting.
During the three years preceding
the war Russia not only fed herself.
but shipped wheat to the amount
of 1877 100000 bushels q year. This
was more than we exported. Even
as late as 1915 Russia's exports of
1oodstuffs were considerably more
than twice her imports. If Russia
is now hungry it is not so much be-
cause food has been kept from her
as because something is the matter
with her domestic production.
The case of Ireland is as striking.
In 1912 Ireland exported to Great
Britain foodstutfs valued at $3.50,
100000. BY 1916 the total had
leapcd to $30O,O00,0O0. During the
war Ireland consumed at home but
one-fourth of her cattle product. In
1918 Irish acres under tillage were
one million more than in 1916. In
County Limerick alone the corn crop
doubled IN two years. 1t was not re-
ported that blight attacked the corn
last summer or a murrain the cattle.
Russia's cities are unquestionablv
short Of food. The government has
been such as to make few peasants
want to plant more than enough to
meet family needs. Russia's trans
portation has been wrecked and her
cities have nothing to give in return
Tor food. Private property is in
secure and producers find they can
not rely on retaining the fruits of
their toll
It's all very simple. If the benev-
olent persons who wish the empty
Russians to be filled would do good
let them do ali that lies in their
power to end famine breeding
regime. Any relief from outside
that Will practically assist Bolshev-
ISM to hold on has the effect of help
ing to make Russian rations mcager
AS to Ireland, the passing of the
hat may be regarded as propaganda,
or as new device to fill the Golfers
of the Sim Fem. If hell-raisine in
Ireland is kept up long enough to
produce chronic anarchy then, of
course, Ireland will become hungry;
but this condition is not vet, and
Americans can best prevent its COM
ing by helping to make Ireland
peaceful rather than by helping to
foster disorder.
No one will carp at manifesta-
tons Of the spirit of charity. 1t is
glory OF our country that it knows
neither race, nor creed, nor preiu-
dice when want raises it's hands in
appeal. But this does not mean
countenance Of traffickers in svm-
pathy whose activity threatens to
dry up the fountains of generosity.
Wake In To~.<Lot